Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Practice Exam

Which type of data storage is generally the most expensive?

1. Archived

2. Cold

3. Hot

4. Warm

The correct answer is: Hot

Hot data storage is generally the most expensive type of data storage. This is because it is designed for data that is frequently accessed and requires low latency for optimal performance. Services that offer hot storage, such as Azure Blob Storage with Hot tier, are optimized for high availability and quick retrieval of data. This ensures that organizations can access their critical data instantly, which is essential for applications that depend on real-time data processing. In contrast, archived storage typically caters to data that is infrequently accessed, and therefore, the costs are much lower as the service is optimized for long-term retention rather than quick access. Cold storage is intended for data that is rarely accessed but still needs to be retained, making it less expensive than hot storage. Warm storage serves as a balance between hot and cold, offering moderate access speeds at a moderate cost, but still not reaching the price level of hot storage. Thus, the hot storage's prioritization of performance and access speed contributes to its higher costs.