Google Associate Cloud EngineerPlanning and configuring a cloud solutionMedium
A data analytics team needs to process large datasets (tens of terabytes) that are accessed infrequently (once a month) for regulatory compliance reporting. The data needs to be highly durable and cost-optimized for long-term storage with infrequent access. Which Google Cloud storage class should they choose?
- ACloud Storage Coldline
- BCloud Storage Archive
- CCloud Storage Nearline
- DCloud Storage Standard
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Cloud Storage Coldline
Cloud Storage Coldline is optimized for data accessed less than once a month, offering lower storage costs than Nearline and Standard, while still providing high durability.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Archive storage is for data accessed less than once a year, making it too slow and potentially costly for monthly access patterns.
- C. Nearline storage is for data accessed less than once a month, but Coldline is more cost-effective for even less frequent access.
- D. Standard storage is for frequently accessed data, which is not the requirement here.
Cloud Storage Coldline
Cloud Storage Coldline is a low-cost, highly durable storage class optimized for data accessed less than once a month, suitable for backups, disaster recovery, and data archiving.
- Lower storage cost than Standard and Nearline
- Higher retrieval cost and latency than Standard and Nearline
- Minimum storage duration of 90 days
Memory trick: Standard, Near, Cold, Archive: a spectrum of access and cost.