DEA-C02 Storage and Data Protection Practice Question
A data engineer creates a table in a Snowflake database that resides on a standard (non-replicated) storage. The engineer wants to confirm that Fail-safe will protect the table after Time Travel expires. Which table type should the engineer use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming all table types share the same protection model, when Fail-safe applies only to permanent tables.
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
✓
Permanent table
Fail-safe is exclusive to permanent tables. It provides a non-configurable 7-day window after Time Travel expires, during which Snowflake Support can recover data. Transient, temporary, and external tables do not receive Fail-safe coverage, so only a permanent table satisfies the requirement described in the scenario.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
External table
Why it's wrong here
External tables reference data stored outside Snowflake, such as in a cloud storage bucket. Fail-safe does not apply to the external files, and the table object itself does not provide the same protection model as a permanent table. This option misapplies the Fail-safe concept to a table type that does not support it.
- ✗
Transient table
Why it's wrong here
Transient tables are designed for data that does not require long-term protection. They have Time Travel but no Fail-safe coverage, so once the retention window passes, the data is unrecoverable. This makes a transient table the wrong choice when Fail-safe protection is a requirement for the table in question.
- ✗
Temporary table
Why it's wrong here
Temporary tables exist only for the duration of a session and are dropped automatically when the session ends. They have minimal Time Travel and no Fail-safe. Choosing a temporary table would give the shortest possible lifespan and no post-retention protection, which contradicts the engineer's stated goal.
- ✓
Permanent table
Why this is correct
Permanent tables are the only table type covered by Fail-safe. After the Time Travel retention period elapses, a 7-day Fail-safe window applies, during which Snowflake Support can assist with recovery. This matches the engineer's requirement for post-retention protection, making a permanent table the correct choice.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DEA-C02 question from scratch — 229 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Snowflake exam blueprint
This DEA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Snowflake 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 DEA-C02 exam.