- A
Store all files in the Hot tier and use lifecycle management to move to the Archive tier after 5 years.
Why wrong: This strategy does not move files to the Cool tier during the infrequent access period (30 days to 5 years), resulting in higher storage costs than necessary.
- B
Store files in the Hot tier, move to Cool tier after 30 days, then to Archive tier after 5 years.
This lifecycle management strategy aligns with access patterns: Hot for active use, Cool for infrequent access, Archive for long-term retention, minimizing overall storage cost.
- C
Store all files in the Archive tier from the beginning to minimize cost.
Why wrong: Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but high retrieval latency and additional cost for data access, which is not suitable for the first 30 days when files are actively used.
- D
Store all files in the Cool tier to balance cost and access.
Why wrong: Cool tier has lower cost than Hot but higher than Archive; using only Cool tier is more expensive than transitioning to Archive for the very rarely accessed data after 5 years.
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 healthcare organization stores medical imaging files (DICOM) that are actively used by radiologists for the first 30 days. After 30 days, the files are accessed infrequently for up to 5 years. After 5 years, they must be retained for legal compliance but are accessed very rarely. The organization wants to minimize storage costs. Which strategy should they use to manage the data lifecycle in Azure Blob Storage?
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:
"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 in the Hot tier, move to Cool tier after 30 days, then to Archive tier after 5 years.
Option B is correct because it aligns the data lifecycle with the access patterns: Hot tier for frequent initial access, Cool tier for infrequent access after 30 days, and Archive tier for long-term compliance after 5 years. Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies can automate these transitions, minimizing costs by using the most cost-effective tier for each phase.
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 Hot tier and use lifecycle management to move to the Archive tier after 5 years.
Why it's wrong here
This strategy does not move files to the Cool tier during the infrequent access period (30 days to 5 years), resulting in higher storage costs than necessary.
- ✓
Store files in the Hot tier, move to Cool tier after 30 days, then to Archive tier after 5 years.
Why this is correct
This lifecycle management strategy aligns with access patterns: Hot for active use, Cool for infrequent access, Archive for long-term retention, minimizing overall storage cost.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "first", "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store all files in the Archive tier from the beginning to minimize cost.
Why it's wrong here
Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but high retrieval latency and additional cost for data access, which is not suitable for the first 30 days when files are actively used.
- ✗
Store all files in the Cool tier to balance cost and access.
Why it's wrong here
Cool tier has lower cost than Hot but higher than Archive; using only Cool tier is more expensive than transitioning to Archive for the very rarely accessed data after 5 years.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the Archive tier is always the cheapest option from day one, ignoring the high retrieval costs and latency for actively used data, or they overlook the need for a graduated tier strategy to match changing access patterns.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies use rules based on 'last modified' or 'creation time' to automatically transition blobs between Hot, Cool, Cold, and Archive tiers. The Archive tier has the lowest storage cost but incurs read and data retrieval charges, and blobs must be rehydrated to an online tier before access, which can take up to 15 hours. In a real-world scenario, a healthcare organization might also need to consider compliance requirements like HIPAA, which may mandate specific retention periods and access controls, but the lifecycle management strategy remains the same for cost optimization.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 in the Hot tier, move to Cool tier after 30 days, then to Archive tier after 5 years. — Option B is correct because it aligns the data lifecycle with the access patterns: Hot tier for frequent initial access, Cool tier for infrequent access after 30 days, and Archive tier for long-term compliance after 5 years. Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management policies can automate these transitions, minimizing costs by using the most cost-effective tier for each phase.
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", "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
This DP-900 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-900 exam.
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