- A
Export data from Snowflake to GCS, then load into BigQuery.
Common pattern: export to GCS (e.g., Parquet) and then load into BigQuery.
- B
Use BigQuery Data Transfer Service for Snowflake.
Why wrong: BigQuery Data Transfer Service does not support Snowflake as a source.
- C
Use Cloud Data Fusion with Snowflake connector.
Why wrong: Possible but more complex for a one-time batch transfer.
- D
Use Database Migration Service with Snowflake endpoint.
Why wrong: DMS does not support Snowflake.
Question 550 of 980
PCD Migrate Data Solutions Practice Question
This PCD practice question tests your understanding of migrate data solutions. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A team is migrating a Snowflake data warehouse to BigQuery. They need to move historical data and set up a one-time batch transfer. Which method is most appropriate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Export data from Snowflake to GCS, then load into BigQuery.
Exporting data from Snowflake to GCS (Google Cloud Storage) as files (e.g., Parquet, Avro, or CSV) and then loading them into BigQuery is the most appropriate method for a one-time batch transfer of historical data. This approach leverages Snowflake's native UNLOAD command to export data efficiently and BigQuery's batch load jobs to ingest the files, providing full control over the migration without requiring ongoing connectivity or complex tooling.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Export data from Snowflake to GCS, then load into BigQuery.
Why this is correct
Common pattern: export to GCS (e.g., Parquet) and then load into BigQuery.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use BigQuery Data Transfer Service for Snowflake.
Why it's wrong here
BigQuery Data Transfer Service does not support Snowflake as a source.
- ✗
Use Cloud Data Fusion with Snowflake connector.
Why it's wrong here
Possible but more complex for a one-time batch transfer.
- ✗
Use Database Migration Service with Snowflake endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
DMS does not support Snowflake.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that BigQuery Data Transfer Service can handle one-time batch migrations, but it is actually designed for recurring scheduled transfers and requires the source to support continuous replication, which Snowflake does not natively provide for historical data dumps.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When exporting from Snowflake, using the COPY INTO location command with a file format like Parquet preserves schema and compression, reducing storage costs and load times in BigQuery. BigQuery's batch load jobs support wildcard URIs and automatic schema detection, but for large datasets, partitioning the export into multiple files (e.g., by date) can improve parallelism and avoid load job size limits (up to 15 TB per job). In real-world scenarios, this method also allows data validation and transformation (e.g., converting Snowflake-specific data types) before loading into BigQuery.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Migrate Data Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCD question test?
Migrate Data Solutions — This question tests Migrate Data Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Export data from Snowflake to GCS, then load into BigQuery. — Exporting data from Snowflake to GCS (Google Cloud Storage) as files (e.g., Parquet, Avro, or CSV) and then loading them into BigQuery is the most appropriate method for a one-time batch transfer of historical data. This approach leverages Snowflake's native UNLOAD command to export data efficiently and BigQuery's batch load jobs to ingest the files, providing full control over the migration without requiring ongoing connectivity or complex tooling.
What should I do if I get this PCD question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCD practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCD exam.
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