DEA-C02 Data Governance Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are true regarding the use of Snowflake Data Classification?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume data classification automatically enforces security policies, forgetting that classification only suggests tags and requires manual or automated policy association.
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 process uses system-defined tags to label sensitive data.
Snowflake Data Classification automatically identifies PII and sensitive data within tables, assigning system tags to columns. This process significantly reduces the manual effort required for governance. It works by scanning sample data and applying semantic labels, which can then be used to trigger automated protection measures like masking policies. Understanding how this automates compliance is essential for any modern data engineer managing large, dynamic datasets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Data classification can only be applied to existing tables.
Why it's wrong here
Data classification is an automated process that scans tables and suggests tags based on content. It is not restricted to existing tables and can be run iteratively as new data is loaded. The process is designed for flexibility to handle evolving schema structures and dynamic data environments.
- ✓
The process uses system-defined tags to label sensitive data.
Why this is correct
Snowflake's data classification service uses a set of predefined system tags, such as 'SNOWFLAKE.CORE.EMAIL' or 'SNOWFLAKE.CORE.PHONE', to identify and label columns. These tags help categorize data automatically, allowing administrators to apply governance policies based on these labels rather than manually tagging every column in the database.
- ✗
Classification results are stored in the user's local file system.
Why it's wrong here
Classification results are integrated directly into the Snowflake metadata system, allowing for seamless usage within SQL queries and governance policies. Storing metadata in a local file system would contradict the cloud-native, centralized management architecture that Snowflake promotes for its data governance features and security management.
- ✗
Classification requires the data to be in a flat file format.
Why it's wrong here
Data classification operates on the actual data stored within Snowflake tables, regardless of the original file format used to import the data. The service reads the contents of columns directly, meaning it can classify data regardless of whether it originated from Parquet, CSV, or JSON sources.
- ✓
Users can review and modify the tags suggested by the classification process.
Why this is correct
After the classification process runs, the system provides a set of suggested tags. Governance administrators have the authority to review, accept, or reject these suggestions, ensuring that the classification matches the specific business context and regulatory requirements of the organization before the tags are finalized.
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.