DP-203 Practice Question: Secure, monitor, and optimize data storage and data processing
Which TWO methods can you use to optimize the cost of storing data in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure lifecycle management policies to move older data to the cool or archive tier.
Option B is correct because Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 lifecycle management policies automatically transition blobs to cooler access tiers (cool or archive) or delete them based on age or last-access rules, directly lowering storage costs for infrequently accessed data. Option D is correct because ADLS Gen2 is built on Azure Blob Storage, so data can be stored in the hot, cool, or archive access tiers, and choosing the appropriate tier for each dataset's access pattern minimizes per-GB storage charges. Option A is incorrect because customer-managed keys affect encryption key management and security/compliance, not storage cost. Option C is incorrect because soft delete retains deleted blobs for a retention period, which adds storage consumption rather than reducing cost. Option E is incorrect because geo-redundant storage increases durability and disaster-recovery capability but raises cost compared with locally redundant storage.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use customer-managed keys for encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Customer-managed keys change who controls the encryption key, not how much data is stored or which access tier it occupies, so no storage cost falls. It is genuinely for meeting key-custody or regulatory requirements, and would be the right choice when the question asks who manages encryption keys rather than how to reduce spend.
- ✓
Configure lifecycle management policies to move older data to the cool or archive tier.
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management policies automatically transition blobs between hot, cool and archive tiers based on age or last-access rules, directly reducing storage cost for ageing data. This satisfies the requirement to optimise Data Lake Storage Gen2 costs without manual intervention.
- ✗
Enable soft delete for blobs.
Why it's wrong here
Soft delete retains deleted blobs and their billed capacity for the retention period, adding cost rather than reducing it. It is genuinely for recovering accidentally deleted data, and would be the right choice when the requirement is protection against accidental deletion, not cost optimisation.
- ✓
Use Azure Blob Storage access tiers: hot, cool, and archive.
Why this is correct
Access tiers let you store infrequently accessed data at lower cost per gigabyte, since hot, cool and archive tiers have descending storage rates and ascending access charges. Selecting the appropriate tier for each dataset directly reduces Data Lake Storage Gen2 storage expenditure.
- ✗
Enable geo-redundant storage (GRS) for disaster recovery.
Why it's wrong here
Geo-redundant storage replicates data to a secondary region, roughly doubling storage charges, so it raises cost. It is genuinely for regional disaster recovery, and would be the right choice when the requirement is durability across region failures rather than reducing storage spend.
Quick reference
Azure Blob Storage Tier Comparison
| Tier | Storage Cost | Retrieval Cost | Latency | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot | Highest | Lowest | Immediate | Active data, frequent reads |
| Cool | Lower | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / month |
| Cold | Lower still | Higher | Immediate | Data accessed < once / quarter |
| Archive | Lowest | Highest + rehydration delay | Hours | Long-term compliance retention |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DP-203 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DP-203 exam.