SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of database administration and cmdb. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 company is implementing a CMDB cleanup strategy and needs to identify CIs that are no longer in use. Which THREE methods can help identify outdated CIs? (Select three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Reviewing CI last discovered date.
Option A is correct because the 'Last Discovered' date field on a CI record indicates when the CI was last seen by a discovery probe. If this date is significantly old, it suggests the CI may no longer be active or in use, making it a reliable method for identifying outdated CIs during a CMDB cleanup.
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.
✓
Reviewing CI last discovered date.
Why this is correct
A very old last discovered date suggests the CI may be out of use.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Using the 'Stale CI' indicator in CMDB Health.
Why this is correct
The Stale CI indicator directly flags CIs that haven't been updated recently.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Running a CMDB Health report on compliance.
Why this is correct
CMDB Health compliance reports include checks for stale CIs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Checking CI status field for 'Retired'.
Why it's wrong here
This only finds CIs already marked as retired, not those that should be retired.
✗
Manually auditing each CI in the CMDB.
Why it's wrong here
Manual auditing is not efficient or scalable.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the 'Retired' status (a manual state) with an automated detection method, or think manual auditing is a valid scalable approach, when the exam expects automated, health-based indicators like last discovered date, stale CI flags, and compliance reports.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'Last Discovered' date is populated by ServiceNow Discovery or other integration probes (e.g., SCCM, cloud APIs) and is updated on each successful identification. The 'Stale CI' indicator in CMDB Health uses a threshold (default 30 days) to flag CIs where the last discovered date exceeds that period, automatically surfacing candidates for cleanup. Running a CMDB Health report on compliance can reveal CIs that violate data quality rules, such as missing required fields or orphaned relationships, which often correlate with disused assets.
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 practitioner preparing for the SNOW-CSA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Database Administration and CMDB — This question tests Database Administration and CMDB — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Reviewing CI last discovered date. — Option A is correct because the 'Last Discovered' date field on a CI record indicates when the CI was last seen by a discovery probe. If this date is significantly old, it suggests the CI may no longer be active or in use, making it a reliable method for identifying outdated CIs during a CMDB cleanup.
What should I do if I get this SNOW-CSA 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.
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Question Discussion
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