AZ-305 Question 90
Select 2A retail organization needs to store product media files (images and short videos) that are frequently updated in the first 30 days, but are accessed only occasionally thereafter. These files must still be available for periodic analytics queries in the same environment. The goal is to keep costs manageable without compromising ongoing read performance and straightforward analytics access. Which two solutions should you recommend to meet these requirements?
- A
Store all files in Azure Blob Storage using the Premium tier for the entire retention period.
- B
Store files in Azure Blob Storage Hot tier initially, then use lifecycle management to move them to the Cool tier after 30 days.
- C
Use Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 with a hierarchical namespace and tier automated policies for frequently and infrequently accessed data.
- D
Leverage Azure Files with a single Standard tier for read/write operations and archival within the same file share.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: B, C
Explanation
A combination of lifecycle management in Azure Blob Storage (Hot to Cool tier) and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 for hierarchical organization strikes the ideal balance of performance, cost optimization, and analytics support. Premium tiers are typically reserved for highly demanding workloads, while Azure Files do not provide the same level of cost savings for infrequently accessed data. For more information, refer to the Azure Blob Storage tiers documentation: https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/storage/blobs/storage-blob-storage-tiers and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 guidelines: https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/storage/blobs/data-lake-storage-introduction.
- A. Incorrect.
Option 1: Storing everything in the Premium tier can provide high performance, but it is significantly more expensive for data that quickly becomes infrequently accessed. This leads to unnecessary costs.
- B. Correct.
Option 2: Using Azure Blob Storage with lifecycle management to move older media files from the Hot tier to the Cool tier is a cost-effective approach. This meets the requirement for lower-cost storage while retaining adequate performance for read operations when analytics are needed.
- C. Correct.
Option 3: Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 supports a hierarchical namespace and offers performance for analytics workloads. You can configure different access tiers or storage accounts to balance cost and performance, making this suitable for files that need occasional analysis.
- D. Incorrect.
Option 4: While Azure Files is convenient for shared file system scenarios, it is not the most cost-efficient option for large volumes of media files requiring long-term retention. Data tiering policies are not as robust for analytics-centric scenarios compared to Blob Storage or Data Lake solutions.