A media company needs to store a vast library of video files (terabytes to petabytes). These files are rarely accessed after initial upload but must be available for retrieval within a few hours when needed. Cost optimization for storage is a primary concern. Which Google Cloud Storage class is the most cost-effective for this use case?
- AStandard Storage
- BArchive Storage
- CColdline Storage
- DNearline Storage
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Nearline Storage
Nearline Storage is designed for data accessed less than once a month, with retrieval times in milliseconds. It offers a lower storage cost than Standard and higher retrieval costs/minimum storage duration than Standard, but significantly less expensive than Coldline/Archive for data accessed a few times a year, fitting the 'rarely accessed, available within hours' use case.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Standard Storage is for frequently accessed data (multiple times a month) and would be too expensive for rarely accessed files.
- B. Archive Storage is for data accessed less than once a year, with the lowest storage cost but highest retrieval costs and longest minimum storage duration (365 days), making it too slow and potentially too expensive for 'available within a few hours'.
- C. Coldline Storage is for data accessed less than once a quarter, with higher retrieval costs and longer minimum storage duration than Nearline, making it less suitable for 'available within a few hours'.
Cloud Storage Nearline
A Google Cloud Storage class optimized for data that is accessed infrequently (less than once a month) but requires fast retrieval (milliseconds). It balances lower storage costs with slightly higher retrieval costs and a 30-day minimum storage duration.
- Access frequency: less than once a month
- Retrieval time: milliseconds
- Minimum storage duration: 30 days
- Cost: Lower than Standard, higher than Coldline/Archive
- Suitable for backups, long-tail content, disaster recovery
Memory trick: Storage classes: Match 'how often' you need it to 'how much' you pay!