- A
Store all files in the Cool access tier and apply lifecycle management to move files to the Archive tier after 30 days.
Why wrong: The Cool tier is not optimal for the first 30 days of frequent access because it has higher read costs and lower availability than Hot. Moving to Archive after 30 days is too early for the 180-day period of rare access.
- B
Store files initially in the Hot tier, then use lifecycle management to move files to Cool after 30 days and to Archive after 210 days.
This strategy matches the access patterns: Hot for the frequent first 30 days, Cool for the rare next 180 days, and Archive for the never-accessed compliance period. Lifecycle management automates transitions, minimizing costs.
- C
Store files in the Archive tier from the beginning to maximize cost savings.
Why wrong: Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but high retrieval costs and latency (up to 15 hours to rehydrate). This is unsuitable for the first 30 days when files are frequently accessed.
- D
Store files in the Premium tier for fast access, then manually delete files after 30 days.
Why wrong: The Premium tier is designed for high-performance scenarios (e.g., VMs) and is expensive for bulk video storage. Deleting files after 30 days does not meet the long-term compliance requirement.
DP-900 Practice Question: Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe considerations for working with non-relational data on azure. 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 company stores large video files in Azure Blob Storage. The files are accessed frequently for the first 30 days after upload, then rarely for the next 180 days, and after that they are only needed for compliance but never accessed. The company wants to minimize storage costs while ensuring the files remain durable and accessible. Which strategy should they implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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.
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
Store files initially in the Hot tier, then use lifecycle management to move files to Cool after 30 days and to Archive after 210 days.
Option B is correct because it aligns the access patterns with the appropriate Azure Blob Storage access tiers: Hot for frequent initial access, Cool for reduced-cost infrequent access after 30 days, and Archive for the lowest-cost long-term retention after 210 days. Azure lifecycle management policies automate these transitions, ensuring durability and accessibility while minimizing costs.
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.
- ✗
Store all files in the Cool access tier and apply lifecycle management to move files to the Archive tier after 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
The Cool tier is not optimal for the first 30 days of frequent access because it has higher read costs and lower availability than Hot. Moving to Archive after 30 days is too early for the 180-day period of rare access.
- ✓
Store files initially in the Hot tier, then use lifecycle management to move files to Cool after 30 days and to Archive after 210 days.
Why this is correct
This strategy matches the access patterns: Hot for the frequent first 30 days, Cool for the rare next 180 days, and Archive for the never-accessed compliance period. Lifecycle management automates transitions, minimizing costs.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "never", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store files in the Archive tier from the beginning to maximize cost savings.
Why it's wrong here
Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but high retrieval costs and latency (up to 15 hours to rehydrate). This is unsuitable for the first 30 days when files are frequently accessed.
- ✗
Store files in the Premium tier for fast access, then manually delete files after 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
The Premium tier is designed for high-performance scenarios (e.g., VMs) and is expensive for bulk video storage. Deleting files after 30 days does not meet the long-term compliance requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the Cool tier is the cheapest option for long-term storage, overlooking the Archive tier's significantly lower cost for compliance data that is never accessed, and they may also forget that lifecycle management can automate multiple tier transitions over time.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
The Premium tier is designed for high-performance scenarios (e.g., VMs) and is expensive for bulk video storage. Deleting files after 30 days does not meet the long-term compliance requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management uses rules based on the 'last modified' date to trigger tier transitions. The Archive tier has a 180-day minimum storage charge for blobs moved to it, so moving files after 210 days (30 Hot + 180 Cool) avoids early deletion fees. Additionally, rehydrating from Archive to Hot or Cool can take up to 15 hours for standard priority, so the policy ensures files are only archived when they are truly never accessed.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DP-900 question test?
Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — This question tests Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store files initially in the Hot tier, then use lifecycle management to move files to Cool after 30 days and to Archive after 210 days. — Option B is correct because it aligns the access patterns with the appropriate Azure Blob Storage access tiers: Hot for frequent initial access, Cool for reduced-cost infrequent access after 30 days, and Archive for the lowest-cost long-term retention after 210 days. Azure lifecycle management policies automate these transitions, ensuring durability and accessibility while minimizing costs.
What should I do if I get this DP-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first", "never", "minimum / minimize". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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