DEA-C02 Storage and Data Protection Practice Question
Exhibit
ALTER TABLE sales_data SET DATA_RETENTION_TIME_IN_DAYS = 5; -- Later, the user executes: DROP TABLE sales_data; -- Then, the user executes: UNDROP TABLE sales_data;
Refer to the exhibit. What is the DATA_RETENTION_TIME_IN_DAYS setting for the table after the UNDROP operation?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates assume dropping and restoring a table resets its configuration parameters to account defaults rather than preserving its original state.
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
✓
It remains 5.
When a table is dropped, its metadata and parameter settings are preserved. When the UNDROP command restores the table, it retrieves the original configuration, including the previously set DATA_RETENTION_TIME_IN_DAYS value of 5. This ensures that object-level policies remain consistent after recovery, allowing the Data Engineer to maintain control over historical data retention settings without needing to reconfigure them after accidental deletions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It reverts to the database default.
Why it's wrong here
The UNDROP command restores the exact metadata state of the table at the time it was dropped. It does not revert to the parent database's default settings. If a specific retention value was explicitly set on the table, that value persists after the object is successfully restored to active status.
- ✓
It remains 5.
Why this is correct
The UNDROP operation restores the table to its exact state, including all defined parameters like DATA_RETENTION_TIME_IN_DAYS. Since it was explicitly set to 5 before the DROP command, that configuration is preserved in the metadata and reapplied upon restoration, ensuring no changes to the intended retention policy occur.
- ✗
It reverts to the account default.
Why it's wrong here
Restoration does not force the table to inherit account-level defaults. The object retains the configuration defined by the user prior to the drop. If the user had not set a specific value, it would have inherited the default, but since an explicit value was set, that value takes precedence.
- ✗
It is reset to 1.
Why it's wrong here
There is no mechanism in Snowflake that resets the retention period to 1 upon restoration. The system preserves the table's state exactly as it existed before the DROP command. Resetting to 1 would be incorrect behavior and would potentially violate the user's defined data protection strategy for the table.
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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.