Snowflake Updated ARA-C01 Exam Questions and Answers by alyssia

 Compilation time is the time it takes for the optimizer to create an optimal query plan for the efficient execution of the query. It also involves some pruning of partition files, making the query execution efficient2

If the compilation time is greater than the execution time, it means that the optimizer spent more time analyzing the query than actually running it. This could indicate that the query has overly complex logic, such as multiple joins, subqueries, aggregations, or expressions. The complexity of the query could also affect the size and quality of the query plan, which could impact the performance of the query3

To reduce the compilation time, the Architect can try to simplify the query logic, use views or common table expressions (CTEs) to break down the query into smaller parts, or use hints to guide the optimizer. The Architect can also use the EXPLAIN command to examine the query plan and identify potential bottlenecks or inefficiencies4 References:

• 1: SnowPro Advanced: Architect | Study Guide 5
• 2: Snowflake Documentation | Query Profile Overview 6
• 3: Understanding Why Compilation Time in Snowflake Can Be Higher than Execution Time 7
• 4: Snowflake Documentation | Optimizing Query Performance 8
• : SnowPro Advanced: Architect | Study Guide
• : Query Profile Overview
• : Understanding Why Compilation Time in Snowflake Can Be Higher than Execution Time
• : Optimizing Query Performance

 This is the correct answer because it allows the company to ingest data from different regions using a storage integration for the external stage. A storage integration is a feature that enables secure and easy access to files in external cloud storage from Snowflake. A storage integration can be used to create an external stage, which is a named location that references the files in the external storage. An external stage can be used to load data into Snowflake tables using the COPY INTO command, or to unload data from Snowflake tables using the COPY INTO LOCATION command. A storage integration can support multiple regions and cloud platforms, as long as the external storage service is compatible with Snowflake12.

References:

• Snowflake Documentation: Storage Integrations
• Snowflake Documentation: External Stages

Dynamic Data Masking is a feature that allows masking sensitive data in query results based on the role of the user who executes the query. A masking policy is a user-defined function that specifies the masking logic and can be applied to one or more columns in one or more tables. A masking policy that is currently set on a table can be dropped using the ALTER TABLE command. A single masking policy can be applied to columns in different tables using the ALTER TABLE command with the SET MASKING POLICY clause. The other options are either incorrect or not supported by Snowflake. A masking policy cannot be applied to the value column of an external table, as external tables do not support column-level security. The role that creates the masking policy will not always see unmasked data in query results, as the masking policy can be applied to the owner role as well. A masking policy cannot be applied to a column with the GEOGRAPHY data type, as Snowflake only supports masking policies for scalar data types. References: Snowflake Documentation: Dynamic Data Masking, Snowflake Documentation: ALTER TABLE

By default, Snowflake does not allow sharing data from a Business Critical edition to a non-Business Critical edition. This is because Business Critical edition provides enhanced security and data protection features that are not available in lower editions. However, this restriction can be overridden by setting the share_restriction parameter on the shared object (database, schema, or table) to false. This parameter allows the data provider to explicitly allow sharing data with lower edition accounts. Note that this parameter can only be set by the data provider, not the data consumer. Also, setting this parameter to false may reduce the level of security and data protection for the shared data.

References:

• Enable Data Share:Business Critical Account to Lower Edition
• Sharing Is Not Allowed From An Account on BUSINESS CRITICAL Edition to an Account On A Lower Edition
• SQL Execution Error: Sharing is Not Allowed from an Account on BUSINESS CRITICAL Edition to an Account on a Lower Edition
• Snowflake Editions | Snowflake Documentation