Session policies in Snowflake are a critical security feature that allows administrators to control and manage user session behavior within the platform. These policies help organizations maintain security standards by defining how long users can remain connected and when they need to re-authentica…Session policies in Snowflake are a critical security feature that allows administrators to control and manage user session behavior within the platform. These policies help organizations maintain security standards by defining how long users can remain connected and when they need to re-authenticate.
A session policy specifies the idle timeout period for user sessions. When a user remains inactive for longer than the specified duration, Snowflake automatically terminates their session, requiring them to log in again. This helps prevent unauthorized access from unattended workstations or forgotten sessions.
Session policies can be applied at two levels: account level and user level. When set at the account level, the policy affects all users unless a more specific user-level policy overrides it. User-level policies take precedence over account-level policies, allowing administrators to customize timeout settings for specific users based on their roles or security requirements.
Key parameters in session policies include SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MINS, which defines the number of minutes a session can remain idle before automatic termination. The default value is 240 minutes (4 hours), but organizations can adjust this based on their security needs.
To create a session policy, administrators use the CREATE SESSION POLICY command. They can then apply the policy using ALTER ACCOUNT or ALTER USER commands. Only users with appropriate privileges, such as SECURITYADMIN or ACCOUNTADMIN roles, can create and manage session policies.
Session policies work alongside other security features like network policies, multi-factor authentication, and password policies to provide comprehensive access control. Organizations in regulated industries often configure shorter timeout periods to comply with security frameworks and audit requirements.
Best practices include setting reasonable timeout values that balance security with user convenience, applying stricter policies to privileged accounts, and regularly reviewing session policy configurations as part of overall security governance.
Session Policies in Snowflake: Complete Guide for SnowPro Core Certification
What Are Session Policies?
Session policies in Snowflake are security objects that allow administrators to control and manage user session behavior. They define parameters such as session idle timeout periods, determining how long a session can remain inactive before it is automatically terminated.
Why Are Session Policies Important?
Session policies are crucial for several reasons:
• Security Enhancement: They reduce the risk of unauthorized access through abandoned or forgotten sessions • Compliance Requirements: Many regulatory frameworks require automatic session termination after periods of inactivity • Resource Management: Helps manage compute resources by closing idle sessions • Risk Mitigation: Limits the window of opportunity for session hijacking attacks
How Session Policies Work
Session policies operate at the account or user level:
• SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MINS: Specifies the number of minutes of inactivity before a session times out • SESSION_UI_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MINS: Controls timeout specifically for the Snowflake web interface
Session policies can be applied at two levels: • Account Level: ALTER ACCOUNT SET SESSION POLICY = my_session_policy; • User Level: ALTER USER username SET SESSION POLICY = my_session_policy;
User-level policies take precedence over account-level policies when both are configured.
Key Characteristics to Remember:
• Only one session policy can be active per user or account at a time • The SECURITYADMIN role or higher is required to create and manage session policies • Session policies are schema-level objects • Default timeout values apply when no custom policy is set
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Session Policies
1. Know the Hierarchy: Remember that user-level session policies override account-level policies
2. Understand the Parameters: Be familiar with SESSION_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MINS and SESSION_UI_IDLE_TIMEOUT_MINS and their differences
3. Required Privileges: Questions may ask about which roles can create or assign session policies - SECURITYADMIN or ACCOUNTADMIN
4. Use Cases: Expect scenario-based questions asking which security feature would help with session timeout requirements - session policies are the answer
5. Distinguish from Network Policies: Do not confuse session policies with network policies. Network policies control IP-based access, while session policies control session duration
6. Object Type: Remember session policies are schema-level objects that must be created within a database and schema
7. Single Policy Rule: Only one session policy can be assigned to a user or account at any given time
8. Common Exam Scenarios: Look for questions about compliance requirements, security best practices, or controlling user session behavior - these often point to session policies as the solution