A query server identifies data collections of interest in a cloud store, and categorizes the collections based on an intended usage. Depending on the intended usage, the categorized data may be cataloged, indexed, or undergo a full intake into a column store. In a database of large data collections, some collections may experience sparse or indefinite usage. Cataloging or indexing position the collections for subsequent query access, but defers the computational burden. The full intake performs a columnar shredding of the collection for facilitating eminent and regular query access. Upon invocation of query activity, an instantiation of virtual machines provided by the cloud store vendor implements query logic, such that the VMs launch in conjunction with the cloud store having the collections. Collections therefore incur processing based on their expected usage-full intake for high query traffic collections, and reduced cataloging for maintaining accessibility of collections of indefinite query interest.