Google Associate Cloud EngineerPlanning and configuring a cloud solutionEasy
A media company needs to store petabytes of archival video footage. This data is rarely accessed (less than once a year) but must be retained for regulatory compliance for decades. When access is required, retrieval times of several hours are acceptable. Which Cloud Storage class is the most cost-effective for this scenario?
- AArchive
- BColdline
- CStandard
- DNearline
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Archive
Cloud Storage Archive is designed for long-term digital preservation of data that is rarely accessed, with retrieval times of several hours, making it the most cost-effective option for such infrequently accessed data.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Coldline is for data accessed less than once a quarter, with retrieval in seconds, and is more expensive than Archive.
- C. Standard is for frequently accessed 'hot' data and would be too expensive for archival storage.
- D. Nearline is for data accessed less than once a month, with retrieval in seconds, and is more expensive than Archive.
Cloud Storage Archive
A highly cost-effective storage class for long-term archiving and disaster recovery, suitable for data accessed less than once a year, with retrieval times typically in hours.
- Lowest storage cost per GB
- Highest retrieval costs
- Retrieval time in hours
- Minimum storage duration of 365 days
Memory trick: Standard is hot, Nearline is warm, Coldline is cool, Archive is frozen solid.