Microsoft Azure Data FundamentalsDescribe how to work with non-relational data on AzureMedium
A financial institution needs to store audit logs for regulatory compliance. These logs are generated continuously and need to be retained for seven years. While the logs are rarely accessed after initial ingestion, they must be highly durable and accessible when needed. Cost-effectiveness for long-term storage is a primary concern. Which Azure Blob Storage access tier is the most appropriate for these audit logs?
- AArchive
- BCool
- CPremium
- DHot
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Archive
The Archive tier is the most cost-effective solution for storing data that is rarely accessed but needs to be retained for long periods, like audit logs for regulatory compliance. While retrieval latency is higher (hours), the significantly lower storage costs over seven years make it the ideal choice when access frequency is low and cost is paramount.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Cool tier is for infrequently accessed data, but Archive offers even lower storage costs for data accessed very rarely.
- C. Premium tier is for high-performance, low-latency access and is not suitable for archival data due to its high cost.
- D. Hot tier is for frequently accessed data and would be too expensive for long-term, rarely accessed audit logs.
Azure Blob Storage Archive Tier
The lowest-cost storage tier for Azure Blob Storage, optimized for rarely accessed, long-term archival data.
- Lowest storage costs, ideal for compliance and backups.
- Highest retrieval latency (can take hours).
- Data remains highly durable and available (offline).
- Requires rehydration to a Hot or Cool tier for access.
Memory trick: Think of storage tiers as a 'cost-access' trade-off: lower cost means slower access.