Describe storage tiers

1. Hot Storage Tier

The Hot storage tier is designed for data that is accessed frequently. This could be data that’s part of an active system, like a website’s content, for instance. In this tier, storage costs are slightly higher compared to the other tiers because the data is always readily available for access. However, access costs are significantly lower, which makes it cost-effective for frequently accessed data.

2. Cool Storage Tier

The Cool storage tier, on the other hand, is apt for storing infrequently accessed data that’s stored for at least 30 days. Examples include old project files or monthly reports. In this tier, storage costs are lower, but access costs are higher than those in the Hot tier. That means you’ll pay less for the storage space but more when you access the data.

3. Archive Storage Tier

As the name suggests, the Archive tier is designed for data that’s barely accessed and can be stored for a long period, typically a year or more. Here, the storage costs are the lowest among the three tiers, but access costs and latency are the highest. This tier is perfect for complying with regulations that require data to retain for a long time, like old patient records in a hospital.

Here’s a simple table for your easy reference.

Choosing the right storage tier for your data is primarily a decision based on your data access requirements and the budget you are operating. Generally, data that’s frequently accessed goes to the Hot tier, while the rest can be stored in the Cool or Archive tier, depending on how often they’ll be accessed.

Take note that while data is stored in the Archive tier, it’s offline and can’t be accessed directly. To access it, you’ll need to change its tier to Cool or Hot first, which can take several hours. This process is known as rehydration.

Keep in mind, you’re allowed to change the storage tier of your data at any time. However, a movement of data out of the Cool and Archive tiers before the minimum storage duration (30 days for Cool, 180 days for Archive) incurs additional charges.

Understanding Azure’s storage tiers is an essential part of learning to optimize storage costs and make efficient use of resources in Azure. So it’s a vital concept for the AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals exam. Through this post, we hope you’ve gained a clearer understanding of this topic.

Practice Test

True or False: Storage tiers in Microsoft Azure are optimized for performance, availability, and cost.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure’s storage tiers allow users to choose the most cost-effective manner to store data based on the frequency of usage and availability requirements.

Which of the following are types of storage tiers available in Microsoft Azure?

• A. Hot
• B. Cold
• C. Frozen
• D. Cool
• E. Warm

Answer: A,B,D

Explanation: Microsoft Azure offers three types of storage tiers – Hot, Cool, and Archive. There’s no such thing as a ‘Cold’, ‘Frozen’ or ‘Warm’ storage tier in Azure.

True or False: The Archive storage tier provides the highest cost but the lowest storage latency.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: The Archive tier provides the lowest cost storage but also provides the highest storage latency.

Which of the following Azure storage tiers is most cost-effective for storing infrequently accessed data over a long period?

• A. Hot
• B. Cool
• C. Archive

Answer: C. Archive

Explanation: The Archive tier in Azure Storage is designed for data that can tolerate several hours of retrieval latency and will remain in the Archive tier for at least 180 days.

The Hot storage tier in Microsoft Azure is optimized for:

• A. Low cost
• B. Frequently accessed data
• C. Infrequently accessed data
• D. Data archiving

Answer: B. Frequently accessed data

Explanation: The Hot storage tier in Azure Storage is optimized for storing data that is accessed frequently.

True or False: The Cool storage tier in Azure offers lower storage costs and higher access costs compared to the Hot storage tier.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: The Cool storage tier is intended for data that is less frequently accessed, so it has lower storage cost but higher access cost compared to the Hot tier.

In which Azure tier is the data stored offline?

• A. Hot
• B. Cool
• C. Archive

Answer: C. Archive

Explanation: In the Archive tier, data is stored offline and hence data retrieval time is the slowest.

Which of the following statements is true about Azure Storage tiers?

• A. You cannot switch between Azure Storage tiers.
• B. The Cold storage tier is designed for frequently accessed data.
• C. The Cool storage tier is designed for data that is expected to remain idle for a long period.
• D. The Hot storage tier has higher storage costs compared to the Archive tier.

Answer: C. The Cool storage tier is designed for data that is expected to remain idle for a long period.

Explanation: The Cool storage tier is optimized for storing data that is infrequently accessed and stored for at least 30 days.

True or False: Data stored in the Hot tier can be moved to the Cool tier after 90 days.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Azure storage offers automatic tiering which moves data from the Hot tier to the Cool tier based on lifecycle management policies.

True or False: Data retrieval is most expensive in the Hot storage tier.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Data retrievals are most expensive in the Archive tier due to its nature of offline storage. In the Hot tier, data retrieval costs are cheaper.

Interview Questions

What are Azure Storage tiers?

Azure Storage offers different tiers depending on the access frequency and performance requirements of data.

What are the different storage tiers available in Azure Storage?

The different storage tiers in Azure Storage are Premium, Hot, Cool, and Archive tiers.

Explain the Premium storage tier in Azure Storage.

Premium storage tier is designed for I/O-intensive workloads, providing high-performance, low-latency storage for VM disks running critical applications.

What is the Hot storage tier in Azure Storage?

The Hot storage tier in Azure Storage is designed for frequently accessed data with moderate to high latency sensitivity.

Describe the Cool storage tier in Azure Storage.

Cool storage tier in Azure Storage is suitable for data with long retention periods that is accessed infrequently but requires fast access when needed.

What is the Archive storage tier in Azure Storage?

The Archive storage tier in Azure Storage is meant for data that is rarely accessed and requires very low-cost storage solutions.

How is data retrieval handled in the Archive storage tier?

Data retrieval in the Archive storage tier may have a longer latency as compared to other tiers, and there may be additional costs associated with data retrieval.

Can data be directly accessed in the Archive storage tier?

No, data in the Archive storage tier needs to be rehydrated to a warmer tier before it can be accessed, which may take some time.

What factors should be considered when choosing a storage tier in Azure?

Factors to consider when choosing a storage tier include access frequency, latency requirements, data retention policies, and cost considerations.

In what scenarios would the Premium storage tier be most suitable?

The Premium storage tier is most suitable for applications that demand high-performance storage, high IOPS, and low-latency access.

When is the Archive storage tier highly recommended?

The Archive storage tier is highly recommended for long-term archiving of data that is accessed infrequently and requires cost-effective storage solutions.