Reader accounts in Snowflake are a specialized type of account designed to enable data sharing with consumers who do not have their own Snowflake account. This feature is particularly valuable for organizations that want to share data with external parties such as clients, partners, or vendors who …Reader accounts in Snowflake are a specialized type of account designed to enable data sharing with consumers who do not have their own Snowflake account. This feature is particularly valuable for organizations that want to share data with external parties such as clients, partners, or vendors who may not be existing Snowflake customers.
When a data provider creates a reader account, Snowflake establishes a separate, managed account that the provider controls and pays for. The reader account operates under the provider's billing umbrella, meaning all compute costs incurred by the reader account are charged to the provider organization. This arrangement makes it easy to share data with external entities who lack Snowflake infrastructure.
Reader accounts have several key characteristics. First, they can only consume data that has been shared with them through secure shares - they cannot create their own databases or load their own data. Second, the provider maintains administrative control over the reader account, including the ability to manage users and set resource limits. Third, reader accounts use their own virtual warehouses for query processing, which the provider can configure and monitor.
From a security perspective, reader accounts benefit from the same robust data protection mechanisms as standard Snowflake accounts. Data remains encrypted, and access controls can be applied to determine what data the reader account can access. The shared data never leaves the provider's account - reader accounts simply have read-only access to the shared objects.
For the SnowPro Core Certification exam, understanding that reader accounts are provider-managed accounts specifically created for non-Snowflake consumers is essential. Key points include knowing that providers bear the compute costs, reader accounts have read-only capabilities, and they represent one of several data sharing options alongside standard Snowflake-to-Snowflake sharing through the Data Exchange or private listings.
Reader Accounts in Snowflake: Complete Guide for SnowPro Core Certification
What are Reader Accounts?
Reader Accounts are a special type of Snowflake account that allows data providers to share data with consumers who do not have their own Snowflake account. These accounts are created, managed, and paid for by the data provider (the account sharing the data). Reader accounts are also known as Managed Accounts.
Why are Reader Accounts Important?
Reader Accounts solve a critical business challenge: How do you share data with external parties who don't use Snowflake?
Key benefits include: • Enables data monetization with non-Snowflake customers • Expands the potential audience for shared data • Maintains security and governance controls • Provides a pathway for potential customers to experience Snowflake • Allows data providers to control access and costs
How Reader Accounts Work
1. Creation: The data provider creates a reader account using the CREATE MANAGED ACCOUNT command
2. Cost Structure: All compute and storage costs incurred by the reader account are billed to the provider's account
3. Limitations: Reader accounts have restricted functionality: • Cannot create their own data shares • Cannot share data with other accounts • Can only consume data from the account that created them • Cannot use features like replication or failover • Limited to querying shared data only
4. User Management: The provider creates at least one user in the reader account who can then create additional users and roles
5. Resource Monitors: Providers should set up resource monitors to control costs since they pay for all reader account usage
Key Differences: Reader Accounts vs Full Accounts
• Full Snowflake Accounts: Can share data, create databases, and have full functionality • Reader Accounts: Read-only access to shared data, cannot create shares, provider pays all costs
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Reader Accounts
1. Remember the billing model: The data PROVIDER always pays for reader account compute and storage costs - this is frequently tested
2. Know the limitations: Reader accounts CANNOT share data with others or create outbound shares - they are consumers only
3. Understand the use case: Reader accounts exist for sharing data with organizations that do NOT have Snowflake accounts
4. Command knowledge: Reader accounts are created using CREATE MANAGED ACCOUNT, not CREATE ACCOUNT
5. Resource monitoring: Questions may ask about cost control - resource monitors are the recommended approach for managing reader account expenses
6. Terminology awareness: Reader Account and Managed Account are interchangeable terms - both may appear in exam questions
7. Cross-region sharing: Reader accounts must be in the same region as the provider account unless database replication is configured
Common Exam Scenarios
• A company wants to share data with a partner who uses a different cloud platform - Answer: Create a reader account • Who pays for compute when a reader account runs queries? - Answer: The data provider • Can a reader account share data with a third party? - Answer: No, reader accounts cannot create shares • What command creates a reader account? - Answer: CREATE MANAGED ACCOUNT