AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following categories of data storage provides shared access for multiple users?

1. Block Storage

2. Object Storage

3. File Storage

4. Archive Storage

The correct answer is: File Storage

The category of data storage that provides shared access for multiple users is file storage. File storage systems are designed to store data in a hierarchical structure, similar to how files and folders are organized on a traditional computer. This structure allows multiple users to access the same files simultaneously while also enabling file sharing and collaboration. In file storage, data is typically accessible over a network, allowing different users to read, write, and modify files within a shared directory. Common examples of file storage services include Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) and Network File System (NFS), which enable multiple instances to access the same storage concurrently. Block storage, while flexible and providing high performance, is primarily designed for a single user or instance access at a time, as it deals with data at the block level rather than file level. Object storage is designed for unstructured data and is typically accessed through APIs, which may not lend itself to simultaneous file sharing in the same way. Archive storage is focused on long-term data retention and is not meant for frequent access or collaborative use. The shared access capabilities of file storage make it the best fit for scenarios where multiple users need to work on the same data concurrently.