Configure storage tiers

Understanding Azure Storage Tiers

Before we dive into the configuration part, let’s understand each storage tier:

• Hot Tier: This tier is optimized for storing data that’s accessed frequently. It provides the lowest latency, highest throughput, but comes with higher costs.
• Cool Tier: Optimized for storing data that’s infrequently accessed and stored for at least 30 days. It provides lower storage costs but higher access costs compared to the hot tier.
• Archive Tier: Ideal for storing data that’s rarely accessed and stored for at least 180 days. This tier provides the lowest storage cost but has higher data retrieval costs and longer access time.

Configuring Azure Storage Tiers

Here’s how you can configure storage tiers for a storage account:

1. In the Azure portal, navigate to the storage account you want to configure.
2. In the storage account window, under the heading ‘Blob service’, click on ‘Lifecycle Management’.
3. Click ‘+ Add Rule’ to create a new lifecycle management rule.
4. In the rule configuration panel, name your new rule, choose the scope and define your tiering rules.

Let’s say you are creating a rule to move blobs to a cooler storage tier after 30 days of inactivity. Here’s how you can set it up:

• Under ‘Rule Name’, enter ‘MoveToCoolAfter30Days’.
• For ‘Type’, select ‘Base blobs’.
• For ‘Scope’, select ‘All blobs’.
• Under ‘Actions’, select ‘Move blobs to cool storage 30 days after last modification’.

Click ‘Add’ to save and activate the rule.

In this example, any blob that hasn’t been modified for 30 days will automatically be moved to the cool storage tier, saving you money on storage costs.

Configuring Storage Tiers via Azure PowerShell

You can also configure storage tiers using Azure PowerShell through the Set-AzStorageAccount cmdlet. Here’s an example of how you can do this:

$rgname = "myresourcegroup"
$storename = "mystorageaccount"
$tier = "Cool"

# Set the new storage tier
Set-AzStorageAccount -ResourceGroupName $rgname -Name $storename -AccessTier $tier

In this code, replace myresourcegroup, and mystorageaccount, with the name of your resource group and storage account. The Cool indicates the storage tier you want to set.

Remember, the ability to configure, manage and optimise storage tiers is a crucial part of administering Azure infrastructure. Thus, understanding how these storage tiers work is vital for the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam.

Practice Test

True or False: In Azure, the standard performance tier tends to be faster and better suited for large-scale operations than the premium performance tier.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: In Azure, the premium performance tier runs on SSDs and is generally more equipped for handling large-scale operations compared to the standard performance tier which runs on HDDs.

Which of the following Storage tiers in Azure is designed for data that can tolerate several hours of downtime?

• A. Premium
• B. Standard
• C. Archive

Answer: C. Archive

Explanation: The Azure Archive storage tier is optimized for data that can tolerate several hours of retrieval latency and are accessed less than twice a year.

You can switch data between storage tiers without any impact on the data. Is this statement True or False?

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, you can manually move data to different access tiers (Hot, Cool, Archive) in Azure without any loss or impact on the data.

Which type of replication in Azure ensures that your data is durable within a single physical location?

• A. Read-access Geo-Redundant storage
• B. Geo-Redundant storage
• C. Zone-Redundant storage
• D. Locally-Redundant storage

Answer: D. Locally-Redundant storage

Explanation: Locally-Redundant Storage (LRS) replicates your data three times within a single physical location in the primary region.

True or False: The higher the storage tier, the lower the cost.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: The storage costs get higher as you move up the tiers from standard to premium in Azure.

Which Azure storage tier is designed to store seldom accessed data for a minimum of 30 days?

• A. Hot
• B. Cool
• C. Archive

Answer: B. Cool

Explanation: The Azure Cool storage tier is ideal for short term backup, large data sets and seldom accessed data, that remains there for at least 30 days.

True or False: Changing storage tier of a blob that is set to Archive prior to 180 days of storage will incur early deletion fees.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Archive access tier has an early deletion fee, if your blob is not stored for at least 180 days, you will incur charges.

The storage tier that has the lowest cost and highest data retrieval times in Azure is:

• A. Hot
• B. Cool
• C. Archive

Answer: C. Archive

Explanation: Archive Access Tier offers the lowest cost per GB and is used for data that can withstand several hours of retrieval latency.

True or False: You can switch from the premium tier to the standard tier at any point without any impact on your data.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: You cannot change the performance tier (standard to premium or vice versa) after account creation, you need to create a new account.

Which of the following is not a data replication option in Microsoft Azure?

• A. Read-access geo-redundant storage
• B. Zone-redundant storage
• C. Locally-redundant storage
• D. Global syncing storage

Answer: D. Global syncing storage

Explanation: Azure provides four types of data replication: Locally redundant storage (LRS), Zone-redundant storage (ZRS), Geo-redundant storage (GRS), and Read-access geo-redundant storage (RAGRS). Global syncing storage is not a data replication option in Azure.

Interview Questions

What is the function of Azure Storage Tiers?

Azure Storage Tiers allow customers to store blob object data in one of three access tiers, each with different access costs and purposes. The access tiers are Hot, Cool, and Archive.

Which Azure Storage tier is best suited for data that is accessed frequently?

The Hot storage tier is designed for data that is accessed frequently and requires quick access times.

What kind of data is best suited for the Cool Storage tier?

The Cool storage tier in Azure is suitable for data that is not accessed as frequently but still requires quick response times. It is typically used for short-term backup and disaster recovery data.

What happens when you move data from the Hot tier to the Cool tier?

When moving data from Hot tier to Cool tier, data is still available for read/write operations. However, there will be a slight increase in latency and transaction cost, while the costs for storing data per gigabyte will decrease.

What is the Azure Archive storage tier used for?

The Archive storage tier in Azure is used for storing data that is rarely accessed and can tolerate several hours of retrieval latency.

Do you pay for data retrieval from Azure Hot and Cool storage tiers?

No, Azure does not charge for data retrieval from the Hot and Cool storage tiers, but it does charge for egress and transactions.

What is the data retrieval cost for the Archive Storage tier?

The Archive Storage tier in Azure does charge for data retrieval, which is calculative based on the amount of data retrieved.

Can you directly move data from the Hot tier to the Archive tier?

Yes, Azure allows you to move data directly from the Hot tier to the Archive tier or vice versa, but it incurs additional cost.

What performance tier should you use for storing large amounts of data that is not accessed very often?

The Archive tier is the best choice for storing large amounts of data that is rarely accessed, as it offers the lowest cost per gigabyte.

What Azure service allows you to configure storage tiers?

Azure Blob Storage allows you to configure different access tiers for blob object data.

Can you switch access tiers at any time?

Yes, you can switch the access tier of a blob or entire storage account at any time.

Does moving data between access tiers affect its availability?

No, moving data between access tiers doesn’t affect its availability, but it may increase latency and transaction costs.

How is the pricing for Azure storage tiers determined?

Pricing for Azure storage tiers is determined by the volume of data and the redundancy option chosen, as well as the selected access tier.

Is there any data size limit to use Azure Storage tiers?

No, there is no minimum size limit for a blob to be eligible for Azure Storage tiers.

What is the Life Cycle Management policy in Azure Storage?

Life Cycle Management policy in Azure Storage offers a rule-based policy to automatically transition your data to the best access tier and optionally delete the data at the end of its life cycle.