What is the difference between Standard and Coldline storage?

Standard and Coldline are two different storage classes within Google Cloud Storage, and they are designed for different use cases based on the access patterns and retrieval requirements. Here are the key differences between Standard and Coldline storage classes:

1. Access Frequency:

• Standard Storage: This storage class is suitable for frequently accessed data where low-latency and high throughput are essential. It is optimized for workloads where data is accessed and retrieved frequently.
• Coldline Storage: Coldline is intended for infrequently accessed data. It is suitable for data that is accessed less frequently but needs to be stored for long periods.

2. Retrieval Time and Cost:

• Standard Storage: Data stored in the Standard storage class is designed for quick retrieval with low latency. Standard storage has a higher cost per gigabyte compared to Coldline.
• Coldline Storage: Coldline storage is intended for data that is rarely accessed. While the storage cost is lower than Standard, the retrieval time is longer, and there is a cost associated with retrieving data from Coldline storage.

3. Cost:

• Standard Storage: Standard storage has a higher storage cost per gigabyte compared to Coldline but typically lower retrieval costs.
• Coldline Storage: Coldline storage has a lower storage cost per gigabyte but higher retrieval costs compared to Standard.

4. Minimum Storage Duration:

• Standard Storage: There is no minimum storage duration for Standard storage. You can store and retrieve data as needed.
• Coldline Storage: Coldline storage has a 90-day minimum storage duration. If you delete or modify data within the first 90 days, you are still billed for the 90-day minimum.

5. Use Cases:

• Standard Storage: Suitable for frequently accessed data, active workloads, and scenarios where low-latency access is critical, such as serving website content or regularly accessed application data.
• Coldline Storage: Ideal for long-term archival and backup data that is accessed infrequently, such as compliance archives, legal records, and historical data.