DP-203 Design and implement data storage Practice Question
You are designing a data storage solution for a media company that stores video files in Azure Blob Storage. The company wants to optimize storage costs by automatically moving older files to cooler tiers. The files are accessed frequently for the first 30 days, then infrequently for the next 60 days, and rarely after that. You need to configure a lifecycle management policy. Which two actions should you include in the policy? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is misaligning tier transitions with the access pattern, such as moving to Archive too early or Cool too late.
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
✓
Move blobs to Cool tier after 30 days since last modification.
The access pattern indicates that data is frequently accessed for 30 days, infrequently for the next 60 days (days 31-90), and rarely after 90 days. Therefore, moving to Cool tier after 30 days and to Archive tier after 90 days optimizes storage costs while matching access needs. Deletion is not specified.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Move blobs to Cool tier after 30 days since last modification.
Why this is correct
Moving blobs to Cool tier after 30 days aligns with the access pattern: frequently accessed for the first 30 days, then infrequently. Cool tier is optimized for infrequent access and lower storage cost. This action reduces cost while maintaining availability. It is a valid lifecycle management action.
- ✗
Move blobs to Cool tier after 90 days since last modification.
Why it's wrong here
Moving to Cool tier after 90 days would be too late; the data is infrequently accessed after 30 days. Cool tier should be applied earlier to realize cost savings. This action does not align with the access pattern and would not optimize costs as effectively.
- ✗
Move blobs to Archive tier after 30 days since last modification.
Why it's wrong here
Moving to Archive tier after 30 days would be premature because the data is still infrequently accessed until 90 days. Archive tier has higher access costs and latency, so it is not suitable for data that might still be accessed occasionally. This action would increase access costs and reduce availability.
- ✗
Delete blobs after 180 days since last modification.
Why it's wrong here
The scenario does not specify that data should be deleted. The company wants to optimize costs by moving to cooler tiers, not deleting data. Deleting blobs would result in data loss and is not required. Therefore, this action is not appropriate.
- ✓
Move blobs to Archive tier after 90 days since last modification.
Why this is correct
Moving blobs to Archive tier after 90 days matches the pattern: rarely accessed after 90 days. Archive tier offers the lowest storage cost but higher access latency. This action is appropriate for long-term retention of rarely accessed data. It is a valid lifecycle management action.
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 |
Go deeper
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
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.