The correct answers are Blob Storage Cool tier and Blob Storage Archive tier. These two options are designed specifically for infrequently accessed long-term retention, with the Cool tier offering lower storage costs than Hot for data accessed less than once a month, and the Archive tier providing the absolute lowest cost for data that can tolerate retrieval delays of several hours, making it ideal for compliance-driven video archives. On the AZ-900 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure’s access tiers as a cost optimization strategy, often appearing as a “select two” question where you must distinguish between the Cool and Archive tiers versus the Hot or Premium tiers. A common trap is choosing only the Archive tier and forgetting that Cool also fits for data accessed occasionally but not immediately. Memory tip: think “Cool for occasional, Archive for deep freeze” — both save money, but Archive is for data you can wait hours to retrieve.
AZ-900 Describe Azure architecture and services Practice Question
This AZ-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe azure architecture and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A solutions architect is designing a storage solution for a large media company. The company needs to store video files that are accessed infrequently but must be retained for several years for compliance. Which two Azure storage options meet these requirements? (Select two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Blob Storage - Cool tier
Blob Storage Cool tier is correct because it is designed for data that is accessed infrequently but needs to be stored for at least 30 days, offering lower storage costs than the Hot tier while maintaining low-latency access. Blob Storage Archive tier is correct because it is the lowest-cost storage option for data that is rarely accessed and has a flexible retrieval time (hours), making it ideal for long-term compliance retention of video files.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Blob Storage - Hot tier
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier is designed for frequently accessed data and has higher storage costs, not ideal for infrequently accessed video files.
✓
Blob Storage - Cool tier
Why this is correct
Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data with a lower storage cost, suitable for videos accessed occasionally.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Blob Storage - Archive tier
Why this is correct
Archive tier is the lowest-cost option for data that is rarely accessed and requires long-term retention, perfect for compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure Files - Premium tier
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files Premium tier is for high-performance file shares, not optimized for long-term archival storage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think the Hot tier is always the best default choice, failing to recognize that cost optimization for infrequently accessed data requires Cool or Archive tiers, and that Archive tier is a valid storage tier for compliance retention despite its higher retrieval latency.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Cool tier has a minimum storage duration of 30 days and a higher cost for early deletion, while the Archive tier has a minimum storage duration of 180 days and requires rehydration (changing the blob tier) before reading, which can take up to 15 hours for standard priority. For compliance scenarios, Archive tier is often used for the bulk of data, with Cool tier used for data that may need occasional access within seconds.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-900 question in full detail.
Describe Azure architecture and services — This question tests Describe Azure architecture and services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Blob Storage - Cool tier — Blob Storage Cool tier is correct because it is designed for data that is accessed infrequently but needs to be stored for at least 30 days, offering lower storage costs than the Hot tier while maintaining low-latency access. Blob Storage Archive tier is correct because it is the lowest-cost storage option for data that is rarely accessed and has a flexible retrieval time (hours), making it ideal for long-term compliance retention of video files.
What should I do if I get this AZ-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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