Quick Answer
The answer is Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management. This is the correct choice because Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is built on top of Azure Blob Storage, so the same lifecycle management policies apply—you can define rules that automatically delete or tier blobs based on age, such as using a 'Delete blob' action with a 'daysAfterModificationGreaterThan' filter of 90 to remove files older than 90 days. On the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 exam, this tests your understanding of how to automate data retention policies in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2, often appearing as a scenario where you must select the feature for policy enforcement without manual intervention. A common trap is confusing this with Azure Purview or Azure Data Factory, but remember that lifecycle management is the native, policy-driven tool for automated data lifecycle actions. Memory tip: think "lifecycle = time-based rules for blobs," and since ADLS Gen2 is blob-based, the same rules apply.
This DP-900 practice question tests your understanding of describe core data concepts. 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 organization uses Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 as a data lake. You need to enforce data retention policies automatically, such as deleting files older than 90 days. Which Azure feature should you use?
Azure Policy
Why wrong: Azure Policy is for compliance of resource configurations, not data lifecycle.
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management
Lifecycle management policies automate deletion or tiering of blobs based on age.
Azure Data Factory
Why wrong: Azure Data Factory is for data orchestration, not lifecycle management.
Azure RBAC
Why wrong: Azure RBAC manages access permissions, not data retention.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management allows you to define rules that automatically delete or tier blobs based on age. Since Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is built on top of Azure Blob Storage, you can use lifecycle management policies to delete files older than 90 days by setting a 'Delete blob' action with a 'daysAfterModificationGreaterThan' filter of 90.
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.
Azure Policy
Why it's wrong here
Azure Policy is for compliance of resource configurations, not data lifecycle.
Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management
Why this is correct
Lifecycle management policies automate deletion or tiering of blobs based on age.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure Data Factory
Why it's wrong here
Azure Data Factory is for data orchestration, not lifecycle management.
Azure RBAC
Why it's wrong here
Azure RBAC manages access permissions, not data retention.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Azure Policy (which enforces rules on resource configurations) with data lifecycle management (which manages data within storage), or think Azure Data Factory is needed for scheduled deletion, when Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management is the native, policy-driven solution.
Detailed technical explanation
Lifecycle management policies are defined as JSON rules with 'rules' and 'filters' that operate at the blob level, supporting actions like 'tierToCool', 'tierToArchive', and 'delete'. The 'daysAfterModificationGreaterThan' filter uses the blob's 'Last-Modified' timestamp, and the policy runs once per day, so files are deleted within 24 hours after the 90-day threshold. A real-world scenario is a data lake storing raw logs that must be purged after 90 days to comply with GDPR data minimization requirements.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Describe core data concepts — This question tests Describe core data concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management — Azure Blob Storage lifecycle management allows you to define rules that automatically delete or tier blobs based on age. Since Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is built on top of Azure Blob Storage, you can use lifecycle management policies to delete files older than 90 days by setting a 'Delete blob' action with a 'daysAfterModificationGreaterThan' filter of 90.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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