Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Blob Storage with the cool or archive tier. This is correct because these tiers are specifically designed for cost-effective long-term log storage, where data is rarely accessed after 30 days; the cool tier balances low storage costs with slightly higher access fees, while the archive tier offers the absolute lowest storage cost but requires a rehydration process before data can be read, making both ideal for occasional analysis. On the DP-203 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Azure storage tiering and lifecycle management, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose Azure Monitor Logs or Azure Data Lake Storage, which are optimized for frequent querying or analytics rather than dormant data. A solid memory tip is to associate "cool" with "cold data" and "archive" with "frozen data"—if you don't need to touch it for months, freeze it in archive to save the most money.
This DP-203 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement data storage. 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.
You need to store log files from multiple applications in a central location for long-term retention and occasional analysis. The data is rarely accessed after 30 days. Which storage solution should you use to minimize cost?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Azure Files
Why wrong: Azure Files is for SMB shares, not archival.
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
Why wrong: ADLS Gen2 is optimized for analytics, not for low-cost archival.
Azure Cosmos DB
Why wrong: Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database, not for log storage.
Azure Blob Storage (cool or archive tier)
Blob Storage with cool/archive tiers provides low-cost storage for infrequently accessed data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Blob Storage (cool or archive tier)
Azure Blob Storage with cool or archive tier is the most cost-effective solution for storing log files that are rarely accessed after 30 days. The cool tier offers low storage costs with higher access costs, while the archive tier provides the lowest storage cost but requires rehydration for access, making both ideal for long-term retention and occasional analysis.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Azure Files
Why it's wrong here
Azure Files is for SMB shares, not archival.
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2
Why it's wrong here
ADLS Gen2 is optimized for analytics, not for low-cost archival.
Azure Cosmos DB
Why it's wrong here
Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database, not for log storage.
Azure Blob Storage (cool or archive tier)
Why this is correct
Blob Storage with cool/archive tiers provides low-cost storage for infrequently accessed data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may choose Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 for its analytics capabilities, overlooking that blob storage tiers are specifically designed for cost-efficient long-term retention of infrequently accessed data.
Detailed technical explanation
Azure Blob Storage access tiers (hot, cool, archive) allow automatic or manual tiering based on data access patterns. The cool tier has a 30-day minimum storage duration, and the archive tier has a 180-day minimum, with rehydration times ranging from hours to days. For logs accessed only occasionally after 30 days, lifecycle management policies can automatically move blobs from hot to cool to archive, minimizing costs while retaining data for compliance or auditing.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Design and implement data storage — This question tests Design and implement data storage — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Blob Storage (cool or archive tier) — Azure Blob Storage with cool or archive tier is the most cost-effective solution for storing log files that are rarely accessed after 30 days. The cool tier offers low storage costs with higher access costs, while the archive tier provides the lowest storage cost but requires rehydration for access, making both ideal for long-term retention and occasional analysis.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Variation 1. A data engineer needs to store log data from multiple applications in Azure. The data is append-only, heavily compressed, and queried infrequently. Cost minimization is critical. Which storage solution is best?
easyWhy C: Azure Blob Storage with cool or archive access tier is the best choice because the data is append-only, heavily compressed, and infrequently queried, making cost minimization the top priority. The cool tier offers low storage costs with higher access charges, while the archive tier provides the lowest storage cost for data that is rarely accessed and can tolerate hours of retrieval latency. This aligns perfectly with the append-only, infrequently queried nature of the log data.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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