Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)Cloud Data SecurityEasy
A cloud customer is evaluating different storage options for a large volume of sensor data that is rarely accessed after an initial processing period but must be retained for seven years for regulatory compliance. The customer prioritizes cost-effectiveness for long-term storage and accepts higher retrieval latency and costs when access is eventually needed. Which cloud storage class is most suitable for this use case?
- AStandard Storage
- BArchive Storage
- CNearline Storage
- DColdline Storage
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Archive Storage
Archive storage (or equivalent deep archive tiers) is designed for data that is accessed very infrequently, has high retrieval latency (hours to days), and the lowest storage costs. This perfectly matches the scenario's requirements for long-term, rarely accessed, cost-effective storage.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Standard storage is for frequently accessed data with low latency, making it too expensive for rarely accessed data.
- C. Nearline storage is for data accessed less frequently than standard but more often than coldline/archive, with retrieval in minutes.
- D. Coldline storage is for data accessed infrequently, with retrieval in seconds to minutes, but still more expensive than archive storage.
Archive Storage
A cloud storage class optimized for extremely infrequent data access and long-term retention, offering the lowest storage costs but typically involving higher retrieval latency (hours to days) and retrieval fees.
- Lowest storage costs.
- Highest retrieval latency (hours to days).
- Ideal for regulatory compliance and backups with long retention.
Memory trick: Archive is for Ages, Access is Awaited.