is often the cheapest for hot storage and offers massive savings for Windows-heavy workloads. Google Cloud $0.020/GB $0.0012/GB
Moving data out of "Cold" or "Archive" tiers can cost $0.02–$0.05 per GB , plus per-request fees.
Mature FinOps teams avoid "bill shock" by using automated lifecycle policies: keep data in during active use (e.g., AI training), move to Nearline/Cool after 90 days of inactivity, and move to Archive/Glacier after 180 days.
A leader in value for backups, offering storage at roughly $0.006/GB with very low egress costs. Strategy Tip: The "90-Day Decay" Rule
This is often the largest unexpected fee, costing $0.09–$0.12 per GB on major platforms like AWS and GCP.