What must occur before data can be accessed in a customer-managed environment using DDSS?

In a customer-managed environment utilizing Data Store and Search Services (DDSS), data must be thawed before it can be accessed. Thawing is the process that involves moving data from a frozen state back into an accessible format within the index. When data is initially ingested, it may be rolled into a "frozen" state after a retention period or when the space limits of the index are reached, meaning it is no longer immediately retrievable via standard search mechanisms.

Thawing is an essential step because it allows for the re-integration of historical data that has been archived and requires intervention to make it available again for search queries. This ensures that users can still access older data that may be critical for long-term analysis or compliance, despite the regular operational patterns expected in many data workflows.

In some contexts, other stages may allow for immediate access to data, but when it comes to DDSS and managing data that has transitioned to a frozen state, thawing is a prerequisite to ensure that the necessary data is presented and available for querying.