DEA-C02 Data Governance Practice Question
A data engineer is responsible for implementing data governance in Snowflake. The organization requires that all access to sensitive data be auditable and that data usage can be attributed to specific users and roles. Which two Snowflake features should the engineer use to meet these requirements? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that data classification or masking policies provide auditing; they enforce controls but do not record access events.
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
✓
Query History in the ACCOUNT_USAGE schema to see all queries executed in the account.
Access History and Query History in the ACCOUNT_USAGE schema both provide detailed audit trails of data access. Access History records column-level read and write access, while Query History captures all queries with user and role information. Together, they enable comprehensive auditing and attribution of data usage to specific users and roles, meeting the governance requirements.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Query History in the ACCOUNT_USAGE schema to see all queries executed in the account.
Why this is correct
Query History captures all queries executed, including the user, role, and SQL text. It can be used to attribute data usage to specific users and roles. While it does not directly record column-level access, it provides a comprehensive audit trail of query activity. Combined with other features, it helps meet the requirement for auditable access.
- ✗
Tag-based masking policies to enforce access controls based on tags.
Why it's wrong here
Tag-based masking policies enforce column-level security by masking data, but they do not provide auditing or usage attribution. They control what data is shown, not who accessed it. While they are part of governance, they do not meet the requirement for auditable access or attribution to users and roles.
- ✓
Access History in the ACCOUNT_USAGE schema to track read and write access to columns.
Why this is correct
Access History records every query that accesses a table or column, including the user, role, and timestamp. It captures both read and write operations and provides a detailed audit trail. This directly satisfies the requirement for auditable access to sensitive data and attribution to users and roles. It is a core feature for governance and compliance.
- ✗
Data Classification to automatically tag sensitive columns and track their usage.
Why it's wrong here
Data Classification identifies and tags sensitive columns but does not track access or usage. It is a discovery tool that helps categorize data, not an auditing mechanism. It cannot attribute data access to users or roles. Therefore, it does not fulfill the requirement for auditable access or usage attribution.
- ✗
Object Dependencies in the ACCOUNT_USAGE schema to map relationships between tables and views.
Why it's wrong here
Object Dependencies show how objects reference each other, such as views depending on tables. This helps understand data lineage but does not provide access auditing or user attribution. It cannot track who accessed data or when. Therefore, it does not meet the requirement for auditable access or usage attribution.
About these practice questions
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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.