Which cloud storage type is required for high-speed data access and performance, especially for transactional applications?

Block storage is optimal for high-speed data access and performance, particularly in transactional applications. This type of storage breaks data into blocks, each with a unique identifier, allowing for quick retrieval and writing of data. This architecture is well-suited for applications requiring low-latency access and high throughput, such as databases and virtual machine file systems.

In contrast, file-based storage organizes data in a hierarchical structure, which may introduce more overhead in accessing specific files. Blob storage is designed for unstructured data, such as large media files, and while it’s efficient for storing and serving such content, it does not prioritize speed for transactional data. Object storage, which manages data as objects rather than blocks or files, is highly scalable but is generally slower for transactional workload access due to its retrieval mechanisms and overhead. Therefore, block storage is the preferred choice for applications demanding rapid data transactions and performance.