Practice Test
True or False: Storage tiering is a mechanism to categorize and store data based upon its value to the organization.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Storage tiering allows data to be segregated into various tiers based on requirements such as frequency of access, retrieval time, and critical value to the organization.
What is cold storage in AWS?
1) A place to store unused or rarely accessed data
2) A high performance storage tier
3) A mechanism for enabling cross region data replication
4) A backup space for critical data
Answer: 1) A place to store unused or rarely accessed data
Explanation: Cold storage is a cost-effective storage solution for data that is not frequently accessed or retrieved.
S3 Glacier Deep Archive is an example of which type of storage tier?
1) Hot tier
2) Warm tier
3) Cold tier
4) Tropical tier
Answer: 3) Cold tier
Explanation: S3 Glacier Deep Archive is an example of cold storage which is used for data archiving and long-term backup.
True or False: Data retrieval from cold storage tiers is generally faster compared to hot storage tiers.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: Cold storage tiers are designed for infrequently accessed data and may have slower retrieval times as compared to hot storage tiers.
Which AWS service provides automatic tiering between two access tiers, one optimized for frequent access and one optimized for infrequent access?
1) Amazon S3
2) Amazon Athena
3) Amazon EMR
4) AWS Lambda
Answer: 1) Amazon S3
Explanation: Amazon S3 Intelligent-Tiering offers automatic cost savings by moving data between two access tiers when access patterns change.
Managing storage tiers manually is an efficient way to ensure optimized performance. True or False?
1) True
2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: Manual management can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Automated solutions like AWS S3 Intelligent-Tiering are more efficient.
What benefit is offered by storage tiering in AWS?
1) Reduction of storage costs
2) High throughput rates
3) High security for sensitive data
4) Faster data retrieval
Answer: 1) Reduction of storage costs
Explanation: Storage tiering allows infrequently accessed data to be moved to lower-cost tiers, helping to reduce storage costs.
True or False: All data in AWS cold storage needs to be defrosted before use.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Data in AWS cold storage, such as S3 Glacier, requires a retrieval time (defrost) before it is accessible.
S3 Glacier is suitable for:
1) Frequently accessed data
2) Data archiving and long-term backup
3) High-performance computing workloads
4) Real-time analytics and big data workloads.
Answer: 2) Data archiving and long-term backup
Explanation: AWS S3 Glacier is a secure, durable, and extremely low-cost Amazon S3 cloud storage class for data archiving and long-term backup.
Can you retrieve data immediately from AWS S3 Glacier?
1) Yes
2) No
Answer: 2) No
Explanation: Data retrieval times from S3 Glacier range from a few minutes to several hours, it’s not designed for immediate retrieval.
True or False: Storage tiering is a static process and does not adapt to changes in the data access frequency.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: Services like AWS S3 Intelligent-Tiering adapt to changes in data access frequency and move the data between tiers accordingly.
Which AWS storage class is optimal for data that is accessed less frequently, but requires rapid access when needed?
1) S3 Glacier
2) S3 Intelligent-Tiering
3) S3 Standard
4) S3 Infrequent Access
Answer: 4) S3 Infrequent Access
Explanation: S3 Standard-IA is for data that is accessed less frequently, but requires rapid access when needed.
Object storage, such as AWS S3, is unsuitable for storage tiering. True or False?
1) True
2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: AWS S3 provides multiple storage classes for different use cases including storage tiering.
True or False: Transferring data between storage tiers in AWS is free of cost.
1) True
2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: There may be costs associated with data transfer and retrieval between different storage tiers depending upon the tier and volume of data.
What is the recommended strategy to move data from hot tier to cold tier storage?
1) Moving all data at once
2) Moving data based on last access time
3) Moving random sets of data
4) Moving data based on its creation date
Answer: 2) Moving data based on last access time
Explanation: Usually, the data is moved from hot to cold storage based on last access time. Infrequently accessed data can be moved to lower-cost tiers.
Interview Questions
What is storage tiering in the context of AWS?
Storage tiering in AWS involves the allocation of data across multiple types of storage, or storage tiers, based on the data’s business value. These tiers typically involve a combination of high-performance SSD, low-cost HDD, and archive solutions like the S3 Glacier service.
Name two AWS services that support storage tiering.
Two AWS services that support storage tiering include Amazon S3 and Amazon Glacier.
What is the purpose of a cold storage tier, such as Amazon S3 Glacier?
A cold storage tier, such as Amazon S3 Glacier, is designed for the long-term storage of data that is infrequently accessed and for which retrieval times of several hours are acceptable.
What would be the ideal storage tier in AWS for frequently accessed data?
The ideal tier for frequently accessed data would be the Standard Storage class in Amazon S3, as it has the highest level of availability and durability with low latency and high-speed performance.
How does AWS implement automatic tiering?
AWS implements automatic tiering through lifecycle management policies in Amazon S3. Based on these policies, objects/files are transitioned from one storage class to another after a designated period of time.
What is a use case for using the S3 Intelligent-Tiering storage class?
The S3 Intelligent-Tiering storage class is ideal for data with unknown or changing access patterns, as it automatically moves data between two access tiers (frequent and infrequent access) based on how often the data is accessed.
What types of data are suitable for storing in the “deep archive” tier of Amazon S3 Glacier?
The deep archive tier of Amazon S3 Glacier designed for data stored for a minimum of seven to ten years and that can withstand retrieval times of up to 12 hours. This could be data used for long-term backup, disaster recovery, or regulatory recordkeeping purposes.
When would it be cost-effective to use the Infrequent Access storage tier in S3?
The Infrequent Access storage tier in S3 would be cost-effective for storing data that is accessed less frequently, but requires rapid access when needed. It offers lower storage costs but charges a retrieval fee for data accessed.
Is it possible to move data from one storage tier to another in AWS?
Yes, it is possible to move data from one storage tier to another in AWS. This can be done manually or can be automated using lifecycle policies in the case of Amazon S3.
How does AWS’s storage tiering approach align with the concept of data lifecycle management?
AWS’s storage tiering approach supports data lifecycle management by automatically moving data between tiers based on the age and access patterns of data. This not only optimizes costs but also ensures that data is stored in the most appropriate tier at each stage of its lifecycle.
extutorials.com