AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)Cloud Technology and ServicesEasy
Which S3 storage class is MOST cost-effective for archival data that is accessed once or twice a year and can tolerate a retrieval time of up to 12 hours?
- AS3 Standard-IA
- BS3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval
- CS3 Intelligent-Tiering
- DS3 Glacier Deep Archive
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. S3 Glacier Deep Archive
S3 Glacier Deep Archive is the lowest-cost S3 storage class, designed for data accessed once or twice a year with retrieval times of 12 hours or more, making it ideal for long-term archival needs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Standard-IA is for infrequent but rapid-access data, not long-term archives.
- B. Glacier Flexible Retrieval offers faster retrieval (minutes to hours) but at higher cost than Deep Archive.
- C. Intelligent-Tiering automatically moves data between tiers but costs more than Deep Archive for rarely accessed data.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive
The lowest-cost S3 storage class for long-term data archiving with retrieval times of 12+ hours.
- Cheapest S3 storage option
- Minimum storage duration of 180 days
- Ideal for compliance/regulatory archives
Memory trick: Deep Archive = Deep Freeze, Deep Savings