Enhance your understanding of S3 storage classes including Standard, Infrequent Access (IA), and Glacier with this focused quiz. Explore scenarios, cost considerations, and retrieval best practices to confidently select the most suitable storage solution for different data needs.
Which S3 storage class is most suitable for storing files that are accessed frequently, such as website images updated daily?
Explanation: S3 Standard is designed for frequently accessed data, making it the best fit for frequently updated website images. S3 Glacier Deep Archive is intended for long-term archival with infrequent access. S3 Infrequent Access (IA) is more suitable for files that are accessed less often, and S3 One Zone-IA provides less durability and is also for infrequently accessed data. Only S3 Standard meets the requirements for frequent access.
If a company needs to store regulatory documents for 10 years with rare access, which S3 storage class should they select?
Explanation: S3 Glacier is intended for long-term data archiving and suits documents that need to be kept for years but rarely accessed. S3 One Zone-IA is not ideal for archiving due to lower durability. S3 Standard is best for frequently accessed files, and S3 RRS (Reduced Redundancy Storage) is not for long-term archival and provides less durability. S3 Glacier is the most appropriate choice for archival with rare retrieval.
Which S3 storage class typically incurs extra costs and wait times when retrieving files, especially in urgent situations?
Explanation: S3 Glacier has variable retrieval times and charges additional fees for faster or bulk retrievals, making urgent access potentially expensive. S3 Standard and S3 Intelligent-Tiering provide quicker access without significant retrieval costs. S3 IA (Infrequent Access) charges for retrieval but without the delays seen in Glacier. Only S3 Glacier combines both higher retrieval cost and longer retrieval time.
Your backup files are rarely accessed but need to be retrieved quickly when needed. Which S3 storage class is best suited?
Explanation: S3 Infrequent Access (IA) is ideal for rarely accessed data that still requires rapid retrieval. S3 Glacier Deep Archive is for data accessed even less frequently and has much longer retrieval times. S3 Standard is optimized for frequent access and is more expensive. S3 Reduced Frequency Access is not a valid storage class; the correct term is Infrequent Access. S3 IA is therefore the most suitable.
Which S3 storage class stores data across multiple locations to ensure high durability and availability?
Explanation: S3 Standard stores data across multiple facilities, providing high durability and availability. S3 One Zone-IA only keeps data in a single location, increasing risk. S3 Glacier focuses on archival rather than cross-location durability. S3 Coldline is not an S3 storage class; it is unrelated. Only S3 Standard meets the criteria for distributing data for durability.
Which S3 storage class typically offers the lowest storage cost per gigabyte but higher retrieval costs?
Explanation: S3 Glacier provides very low storage costs per gigabyte due to design for infrequent access but imposes higher retrieval fees. S3 Standard has the highest storage costs with the lowest retrieval costs. S3 IA offers balanced storage and retrieval pricing, but not as low as Glacier for storage. S3 Nearline is not an S3 storage class, making Glacier the correct answer.
Which S3 storage class stores data in only one availability zone, reducing cost but increasing risk?
Explanation: S3 One Zone-IA keeps data in a single zone, lowering costs but increasing exposure to loss if that zone fails. S3 IA and S3 Standard distribute data across multiple zones for higher durability. S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval stores data for instant access but still uses multiple zones for redundancy. Only S3 One Zone-IA operates in one zone.
Which S3 storage class automatically moves objects between tiers based on changing access patterns, optimizing costs without user intervention?
Explanation: S3 Intelligent-Tiering monitors access patterns and moves data automatically between frequent and infrequent tiers, reducing costs without manual action. S3 Glacier requires user-initiated movement for archive. S3 Standard and S3 One Zone-IA do not shift data between tiers automatically. Intelligent-Tiering is the only class designed for this cost optimization.
Which S3 storage class is generally NOT suitable for storing active database files due to its high retrieval time?
Explanation: S3 Glacier has long retrieval times and is unsuitable for active database files that require quick access. S3 Standard supports frequent, low-latency retrievals and is often used for linked database files. S3 Intelligent-Tiering automatically manages frequent and infrequent access, keeping active data easily accessible. S3 IA provides relatively fast retrievals compared to Glacier. Thus, Glacier is the least suitable for active databases.
Which S3 storage class imposes a minimum storage duration charge of 90 days, making it best for data retained long-term?
Explanation: S3 Glacier Deep Archive has a 90-day minimum storage charge, making it most cost-effective for data kept long-term and seldom accessed. S3 Standard has no minimum duration requirement. S3 IA and S3 One Zone-IA have a 30-day minimum storage period instead. Only Deep Archive enforces the 90-day policy, making it the clear choice for archival data.