Autoclass automates the choice when the pattern isn't known.
Five storage classes trade access latency and retrieval cost against storage price.
1
StandardNo minimum, no retrieval cost
2
Nearline30-day min, low retrieval
3
Coldline90-day min, moderate retrieval
4
Archive365-day min, highest retrieval
Manual lifecycle rules and Autoclass are mutually exclusive on the same bucket — choose manual only when a compliance requirement dictates an exact minimum-duration timing Autoclass can't guarantee.