Data Protection and Data Sharing

Data loss can happen in seconds—a misplaced DELETE command, a dropped table, or an accidental schema change. In Snowflake, where teams share production environments and update data continuously, protecting critical business information while maintaining accessibility becomes a constant challenge.

Without proper safeguards, accidental deletions can halt operations, delay decision-making, and impact revenue. Similarly, sharing data with external partners often involves complex ETL pipelines, API integrations, or manual CSV exports—all inefficient and difficult to maintain. Understanding Snowflake's built-in protection and sharing mechanisms is essential for maintaining data integrity and enabling collaboration.

Through conversations between Vinay, a data engineer, and Rahul, a senior architect, you'll explore real-world scenarios at GlobalMart—from recovering accidentally deleted production data to securely sharing customer insights with external agencies. Each scenario includes hands-on examples, SQL commands, and knowledge checks to reinforce learning.

What You'll Learn:

Data Recovery & Protection Lifecycle

• Recover deleted or modified data using Time Travel with AT, BEFORE, and UNDROP clauses
• Understand retention periods across Snowflake editions (1-day for Standard, up to 90-day for Enterprise+)
• Use Fail-safe as a 7-day recovery layer for catastrophic events
• Manage storage costs associated with historical data retention

Secure Data Sharing Without Duplication

• Share databases, tables, and secure views using SHARE objects without copying data
• Configure data provider and consumer roles with proper access controls
• Set up Reader Accounts for partners without Snowflake subscriptions
• Understand cross-account sharing limitations and cost responsibilities

Encryption & Key Management

• Protect data at rest with AES-256 encryption and in transit with TLS 1.2
• Understand Snowflake's hierarchical key model (Root → Account Master → Table Master → File Keys)
• Leverage automatic key rotation (30-day cycles) and periodic rekeying (Enterprise+)
• Implement Tri-Secret Secure for composite customer-managed encryption keys (Business Critical/VPS only)

Zero-Copy Cloning for Experimentation

• Create instant clones of databases, schemas, and tables as metadata-only operations
• Experiment on production-like environments without storage duplication or additional costs
• Combine cloning with Time Travel to snapshot data at specific points in time

By the end, you'll understand Snowflake's data protection and sharing architecture—so you can recover from accidental data loss, share data securely with external partners, and create cost-effective development environments. Test your knowledge throughout with scenario-based questions.