AWS (Amazon Web Services) Certification Practice Exam

Which storage technology typically provides very low latency data access?

1. File Storage

2. Block Storage

3. Object Storage

4. Cold Storage

The correct answer is: Block Storage

Block Storage is known for providing very low latency data access, making it the optimal choice for applications that require high performance and rapid responsiveness. In block storage, data is divided into fixed-size blocks, each of which can be accessed independently. This method allows for quick retrieval and modification of the data, which is particularly advantageous for databases, transaction processing systems, and other applications demanding real-time access to their underlying storage. Block storage is commonly used in environments where performance is critical, such as Virtual Machines (VMs) and storage volumes attached to cloud servers. The architecture allows for efficient data operations, enabling rapid read and write speeds. In contrast, file storage typically introduces more overhead due to its directory structure and management, object storage is designed for scalability and durability at the expense of speed, and cold storage is optimized for long-term data archiving, meaning it is intentionally slower to access. Each of these other storage technologies serves important roles but does not match block storage's performance characteristics when it comes to low latency access.