Why data sharing eliminates data copies in Snowflake - See It in Action

Why Data Sharing Eliminates Data Copies in Snowflake

📖 Scenario: You work at a company that uses Snowflake for data storage. Different teams need access to the same data without making multiple copies. You will learn how Snowflake's data sharing feature helps share data efficiently.

🎯 Goal: Build a simple Snowflake setup that creates a database, shares data with another account, and shows how data sharing avoids making copies.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a database called company_data with a table sales

Create a share called sales_share that includes the sales table

Add a consumer account called partner_account to the share

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Companies often need to share data securely with partners or other teams without duplicating data. Snowflake's data sharing feature makes this easy and efficient.

💼 Career

Understanding data sharing in Snowflake is important for cloud data engineers and architects to design cost-effective and scalable data solutions.

1

Create the initial database and table

Create a database called company_data and a table called sales with columns id (integer) and amount (number). Insert two rows: (1, 100) and (2, 200).

Snowflake

-- Your code here to create database, table, and insert data

Hint

Use CREATE DATABASE and CREATE TABLE commands. Insert rows with INSERT INTO.

2

Create a share and add the sales table

Create a share called sales_share and add the sales table from company_data to this share.

Snowflake

CREATE DATABASE company_data;
USE DATABASE company_data;
CREATE TABLE sales (id INT, amount NUMBER);
INSERT INTO sales VALUES (1, 100), (2, 200);
-- Your code here to create share and add table

Hint

Create the share with CREATE SHARE. Use GRANT USAGE on the database and GRANT SELECT on the table to the share.

3

Add a consumer account to the share

Add the consumer account called partner_account to the share sales_share so it can access the shared data.

Snowflake

CREATE DATABASE company_data;
USE DATABASE company_data;
CREATE TABLE sales (id INT, amount NUMBER);
INSERT INTO sales VALUES (1, 100), (2, 200);
CREATE SHARE sales_share;
GRANT USAGE ON DATABASE company_data TO SHARE sales_share;
GRANT SELECT ON TABLE sales TO SHARE sales_share;
-- Your code here to add consumer account

Hint

Use ALTER SHARE with ADD ACCOUNTS to add the consumer account.

Practice

1. What is the main reason data sharing in Snowflake eliminates the need for data copies?

easy

A. Because data is automatically deleted after sharing

B. Because users access the same data directly without duplicating it

C. Because data is encrypted before sharing

D. Because each user gets a personal copy of the data

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand data sharing concept

   Data sharing allows multiple users or accounts to access the same dataset without creating separate copies.

2. Step 2: Identify how data copies are avoided

   Since users query the shared data directly, no extra storage is used for duplicates.

3. Final Answer:

   Because users access the same data directly without duplicating it -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Data sharing = no data copies [OK]

Hint: Data sharing means one data source accessed by many [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking data is copied for each user
• Confusing encryption with data copying
• Assuming data is deleted after sharing

2. Which Snowflake object is used to share data without creating copies?

easy

A. Secure share

B. Database clone

C. Data warehouse

D. Stage

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify Snowflake sharing object

   Snowflake uses a 'secure share' object to share data securely without copying.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other objects

   Database clones create copies; warehouses process queries; stages store files. Only secure shares share data without copies.

3. Final Answer:

   Secure share -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Secure share = data sharing without copies [OK]

Hint: Secure share shares data without copying it [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing clones with shares
• Thinking warehouses share data
• Mixing stages with data sharing

3. If Account A shares a table with Account B using Snowflake's data sharing, what happens when Account B queries the table?

medium

A. Account B queries a copy stored in its own storage

B. Account B must first copy the table to its account

C. Account B cannot query the table directly

D. Account B queries the original table in Account A's storage

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shared table access

   When Account B queries a shared table, it accesses the original data stored in Account A's storage.

2. Step 2: Confirm no data copying occurs

   Snowflake's sharing avoids copying by letting Account B query data directly from Account A's storage.

3. Final Answer:

   Account B queries the original table in Account A's storage -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Shared data queried from original storage [OK]

Hint: Shared data is queried from original account storage [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming data is copied to Account B
• Thinking Account B must copy before querying
• Believing Account B cannot query shared data

4. A user tries to share a table but accidentally creates a clone instead. What is the main problem with this approach?

medium

A. The clone shares data without copying

B. The clone automatically deletes original data

C. The clone creates a full copy, using extra storage

D. The clone cannot be queried

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand difference between clone and share

   A clone creates a full copy of the data, which uses additional storage space.

2. Step 2: Identify the problem with cloning for sharing

   Cloning duplicates data, defeating the purpose of sharing without copies.

3. Final Answer:

   The clone creates a full copy, using extra storage -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Clone duplicates data, uses storage [OK]

Hint: Clone copies data; share does not [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking clone shares data without copying
• Believing clone cannot be queried
• Assuming clone deletes original data

5. How does Snowflake's data sharing ensure data consistency for all consumers without creating copies?

hard

A. By letting all consumers query the same live data in the provider's account

B. By copying data to each consumer and syncing changes regularly

C. By exporting data to external files for each consumer

D. By restricting access to only one consumer at a time

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand data consistency in sharing

   Snowflake shares data by allowing all consumers to query the same live data in the provider's account.

2. Step 2: Explain how copies affect consistency

   Copies can become outdated; sharing live data avoids this problem and keeps data consistent.

3. Step 3: Confirm no copies are made

   Since no copies are created, all consumers see the same up-to-date data instantly.

4. Final Answer:

   By letting all consumers query the same live data in the provider's account -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Live shared data keeps consistency [OK]

Hint: Shared live data keeps everyone consistent [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking data is copied and synced
• Assuming data is exported to files
• Believing only one consumer can access at a time