What type of storage does S3 Standard-IA provide?

S3 Standard-IA (Infrequent Access) is designed specifically for data that is not accessed frequently but still requires rapid access when needed. This storage class provides a lower-cost option for infrequently accessed data compared to the S3 Standard storage class. It is ideal for scenarios where data retrieval is necessary but not continuous, allowing organizations to save on costs while maintaining performance.

The key characteristic of S3 Standard-IA is that it charges a lower rate for storage compared to frequently accessed data storage classes while imposing retrieval fees when the data is accessed. This makes it a cost-effective option for storing backups, disaster recovery data, or less frequently used data that still needs to be readily available without long delays.

This option provides the most efficient balance of cost and accessibility for the intended use case, meeting the needs of businesses looking to optimize their cloud expenditures while still ensuring that their data remains accessible.