Which of the following best describes tiered storage?

Tiered storage is effectively characterized as a strategy that allocates data to different types of storage media based on its value. This approach enables organizations to optimize their storage resources by classifying data according to factors such as frequency of access, criticality, and cost.

For instance, frequently accessed data may be stored on high-performance SSDs, while less critical or rarely accessed data might reside on slower, cost-effective HDDs or even archival storage solutions. This tiered approach not only helps in managing costs effectively but also ensures that performance needs are met without over-investing in high-cost storage solutions for all data types. By utilizing a tiered storage strategy, organizations can achieve an effective balance between performance and cost, tailored to the specific needs of different workloads.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the concept. Maintaining all data on the same type of media disregards the benefits of performance optimization. Automatically deleting old data addresses data lifecycle management but does not relate to the tiering of storage. Lastly, converting all data into cloud storage does not reflect the tiered storage concept, as it lacks the strategic differentiation based on data value.