Which storage class is designed for infrequent access while still providing lower storage cost?

The choice of the Nearline storage class is appropriate for data that is accessed infrequently but still needs to be readily available at a lower cost compared to the Standard storage class. Nearline is specifically designed for data that you plan to access less than once a month, making it ideal for use cases such as backups or long-term storage that require occasional retrieval.

This storage class balances cost and access frequency effectively, allowing users to save on storage expenses without sacrificing accessibility when needed. It offers a lower storage cost compared to Standard storage while ensuring that the data can be retrieved quickly enough for infrequent access scenarios.

The other storage classes do have their designated purposes as well. Standard is optimized for frequently accessed data, Coldline is tailored for data that is accessed less than once a year, suitable for disaster recovery, and the Archive class is intended for data that is rarely accessed, which is the most economical option but with higher retrieval costs and latencies. Therefore, Nearline serves as a suitable middle ground for infrequent access, combining lower costs with relatively quick accessibility.