# Cold Storage Tier

> Source: https://sukruyusufkaya.com/en/glossary/cold-storage-tier
> Updated: 2026-05-13T20:59:23.582Z
> Type: glossary
> Category: veri-muhendisligi-ve-ai-altyapisi
**TLDR:** An approach in which rarely accessed but still required data is kept in a low-cost storage tier.

<p>The cold storage tier is used for data that is accessed infrequently but still needs to be retained for regulatory, historical, or archival reasons. It optimizes cost while preserving the option to retrieve data when necessary. However, retrieval latency and restore time are typically higher than in hot storage. For that reason, cold-tier design requires a deliberate balance between cost and accessibility needs.</p>