Question #1041
A solutions architect is designing a storage solution for a document management system using Amazon S3. The system must ensure that all documents are protected against the failure of a single Availability Zone. Access patterns for the documents vary significantly, with some being retrieved daily and others remaining unused for months without predictable trends. The architect needs to optimize storage costs while minimizing retrieval expenses.
S3 Standard
S3 Intelligent-Tiering
S3 Standard-Infrequent Access (S3 Standard-IA)
S3 One Zone-Infrequent Access (S3 One Zone-IA)
Explanation
The correct answer is B. S3 Intelligent-Tiering.
Why B is correct:
- Multi-AZ Durability: S3 Intelligent-Tiering stores data across multiple AZs, ensuring protection against AZ failures.
- Cost Optimization: It automatically moves objects between Frequent Access and Infrequent Access tiers based on access patterns, minimizing costs without manual intervention.
- No Retrieval Fees: Unlike S3 Standard-IA or One Zone-IA, Intelligent-Tiering does not charge retrieval fees for objects moved to the Infrequent Access tier.
- Handles Unpredictable Access: Since access patterns are variable and unpredictable, Intelligent-Tiering dynamically adjusts storage tiers, avoiding overpayment for underutilized storage.
Why other options are incorrect:
- A (S3 Standard): Expensive for infrequently accessed data and lacks automated tiering.
- C (S3 Standard-IA): Charges retrieval fees and requires manual management of object lifecycle, which is impractical for unpredictable access.
- D (S3 One Zone-IA): Stores data in only one AZ, violating the AZ failure protection requirement.
Key Points:
- Use S3 Intelligent-Tiering for unpredictable access patterns and multi-AZ durability.
- Avoid One Zone-IA if AZ redundancy is required.
- Intelligent-Tiering eliminates manual tier management and retrieval fees.
Answer
The correct answer is: B