DEA-C02 Storage and Data Protection Practice Question
A data engineer manages a Snowflake account with a database named PROD_DB. The database contains a schema SALES with a table ORDERS. The engineer wants to clone the entire PROD_DB database to a new database named DEV_DB for testing. The PROD_DB database is large, but the engineer needs the clone to be available immediately. Which statement accurately describes the storage consumption and availability of the cloned database?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is believing that cloning physically copies data or that changes in one database affect the other, when in fact they are independent after the clone.
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
✓
The clone consumes no additional storage initially, and data changes in DEV_DB will consume additional storage only for the changed micro-partitions.
Zero-copy cloning creates a new database that shares the original micro-partitions without duplicating data. The clone is immediately available and consumes no additional storage at creation. Subsequent changes in either the source or the clone create new micro-partitions, and storage is billed only for those new partitions. This approach is efficient for creating development or testing environments.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The clone is not available immediately; it must complete a background copy process before it can be queried.
Why it's wrong here
Zero-copy cloning is a metadata operation that completes almost instantly, making the clone immediately available for queries. There is no background copy process. The clone references the same micro-partitions as the source, so no data movement is required. This option incorrectly suggests a delay, which contradicts the zero-copy nature of the operation.
- ✗
The clone shares storage with the source, and any changes to the source will also affect the clone, consuming additional storage in both databases.
Why it's wrong here
After cloning, the clone and source are independent. Changes to the source do not affect the clone and vice versa. Each database maintains its own set of micro-partitions. When either database is modified, new micro-partitions are created for that database only. Storage is consumed for the new partitions in the database where the change occurred, not in both. This option incorrectly implies a shared mutable state.
- ✓
The clone consumes no additional storage initially, and data changes in DEV_DB will consume additional storage only for the changed micro-partitions.
Why this is correct
Zero-copy cloning creates a new database that shares the same micro-partitions as the source. Initially, no additional storage is consumed. When data in the clone is modified, new micro-partitions are created for the changes, and storage is charged for those new partitions. The original micro-partitions remain shared until they are no longer referenced by either database. This makes the clone instantly available with minimal storage overhead.
- ✗
The clone consumes storage equal to the size of the source database because it copies all data physically.
Why it's wrong here
Zero-copy cloning does not physically copy data. It creates a new set of metadata that points to the same micro-partitions as the source. Therefore, the clone does not consume storage equal to the source size at creation. Physical copying would be time-consuming and storage-intensive, which is not how Snowflake cloning works. This option mischaracterizes the cloning mechanism.
About these practice questions
This DEA-C02 question is part of Courseiva's 229-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam 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.