SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
An administrator needs to delete a large number of records from the cmdb_ci table based on a condition. Which method is recommended for bulk deletion to ensure data integrity and performance?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often choose Option A (iterative delete) because it seems safer, but they overlook the severe performance penalty and risk of transaction log overflow when deleting large volumes of records individually.
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
✓
Use a GlideRecord script with deleteMultiple() to delete all matching records in one transaction.
DeleteMultiple() processes all matching records in a single database transaction, ensuring data integrity by respecting business rules, ACLs, and database constraints while offering better performance than iterating individual deletes. This method is specifically designed for bulk deletion in ServiceNow, balancing efficiency with platform safety.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a script that iterates and deletes each record using glideRecord.delete().
Why it's wrong here
Iterative deletion is slow and resource-intensive.
- ✗
Use a direct SQL DELETE statement in a background script.
Why it's wrong here
Direct SQL bypasses ACLs and business logic, compromising data integrity.
- ✓
Use a GlideRecord script with deleteMultiple() to delete all matching records in one transaction.
Why this is correct
deleteMultiple() is efficient and safe for bulk deletions.
- ✗
Use the 'Delete all records in this table' option in the table configuration.
Why it's wrong here
This deletes all records, not just the ones matching the condition.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SNOW-CSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ServiceNow 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 SNOW-CSA exam.