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.
Your company needs to store large amounts of data that will be accessed only a few times a year for compliance audits. The data must be retained for 7 years. Which Azure Blob Storage access tier should you choose?
Cool
Why wrong: Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data, but Archive is more cost-effective for this scenario.
Premium
Why wrong: Premium tier is for high-performance scenarios, not cost-effective for archival.
Hot
Why wrong: Hot tier is for frequently accessed data, which is not the case here.
Archive
Archive tier is the lowest-cost storage for data that is rarely accessed and has a long retention period.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Archive
Azure Blob Storage Archive tier is the most cost-effective for data that is rarely accessed and has a long retention period. Option A is wrong because Hot tier is for frequently accessed data. Option B is wrong because Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data but cheaper than Hot; however, Archive is even cheaper. Option D is wrong because Premium tier is for high-performance scenarios.
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.
Cool
Why it's wrong here
Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data, but Archive is more cost-effective for this scenario.
Premium
Why it's wrong here
Premium tier is for high-performance scenarios, not cost-effective for archival.
Hot
Why it's wrong here
Hot tier is for frequently accessed data, which is not the case here.
Archive
Why this is correct
Archive tier is the lowest-cost storage for data that is rarely accessed and has a long retention period.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data, but Archive is more cost-effective for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
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..
The correct answer is: Archive — Azure Blob Storage Archive tier is the most cost-effective for data that is rarely accessed and has a long retention period. Option A is wrong because Hot tier is for frequently accessed data. Option B is wrong because Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data but cheaper than Hot; however, Archive is even cheaper. Option D is wrong because Premium tier is for high-performance scenarios.
Identify which DP-900 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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