Snowflake is a cloud-native data platform that operates across three major cloud providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This multi-cloud architecture is fundamental to understanding Snowflake's flexibility and global reach.
AWS was Snowflake's origi…Snowflake is a cloud-native data platform that operates across three major cloud providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). This multi-cloud architecture is fundamental to understanding Snowflake's flexibility and global reach.
AWS was Snowflake's original cloud partner, launched in 2014. It offers the most mature deployment options with availability across numerous regions worldwide. AWS provides robust infrastructure through services like S3 for storage and EC2 for compute resources that Snowflake leverages behind the scenes.
Microsoft Azure integration came in 2018, allowing organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem to adopt Snowflake seamlessly. Azure regions span globally, and Snowflake utilizes Azure Blob Storage and Azure compute infrastructure to deliver its services.
Google Cloud Platform support was added in 2019, completing Snowflake's multi-cloud strategy. GCP offers strong analytics capabilities and global infrastructure that Snowflake harnesses through Google Cloud Storage and compute resources.
Key considerations for the SnowPro Core exam include understanding that Snowflake maintains consistent functionality across all three platforms. The SQL syntax, features, and user experience remain identical regardless of which cloud provider hosts your account. However, certain aspects differ between providers, such as region availability, data sharing capabilities (which work best within the same cloud provider), and specific compliance certifications.
Data replication and failover can occur across regions within the same cloud provider or across different cloud providers using Snowflake's replication features. Organizations can choose their cloud provider based on existing infrastructure investments, geographic requirements, pricing considerations, or specific compliance needs.
For the certification exam, remember that Snowflake abstracts the underlying cloud complexity, providing a unified experience while still allowing customers to benefit from each provider's unique strengths and global presence. Understanding this multi-cloud deployment model is essential for designing effective data architectures.
Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) in Snowflake
Why Cloud Platforms Matter in Snowflake
Understanding cloud platforms is fundamental to the SnowPro Core certification because Snowflake is a cloud-native data platform that runs exclusively on major cloud providers. Your choice of cloud platform affects deployment options, regional availability, data sharing capabilities, and cost structures.
What Are the Supported Cloud Platforms?
Snowflake supports three major cloud providers:
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) - The original cloud platform for Snowflake, offering the most regions • Microsoft Azure - Deep integration with Microsoft ecosystem and Azure services • Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Growing presence with Google Cloud integration
How Cloud Platform Architecture Works
Snowflake's multi-cluster shared data architecture operates consistently across all three cloud providers. Here's what you need to know:
Storage Layer: Uses the native object storage of each platform (S3 for AWS, Blob Storage for Azure, GCS for GCP) to store data in a compressed, columnar format.
Compute Layer: Virtual warehouses run on compute resources provided by the respective cloud platform, scaling independently from storage.
Cloud Services Layer: Handles authentication, metadata management, query optimization, and access control uniformly across all platforms.
Key Differences Between Platforms
While Snowflake provides a consistent experience, some variations exist:
• Region Availability: Each cloud provider has different regional coverage • Account Identifiers: Account URLs include the cloud provider and region (e.g., xy12345.us-east-1.aws.snowflakecomputing.com) • External Stage Integration: Native stages connect to respective cloud storage services • Private Connectivity: AWS PrivateLink, Azure Private Link, or Google Cloud Private Service Connect
Cross-Cloud Capabilities
Snowflake enables powerful cross-cloud features:
• Data Sharing: Share data across different cloud platforms using Snowflake's secure data sharing • Replication: Replicate databases across accounts on different cloud providers • Snowgrid: Global data mesh capabilities spanning multiple clouds
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Cloud Platforms
Tip 1: Remember that Snowflake's core functionality remains identical across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Questions about basic features will have the same answer regardless of cloud provider.
Tip 2: Know the account identifier format. When you see a URL like account.region.cloud.snowflakecomputing.com, understand how to identify the cloud provider and region.
Tip 3: Understand that external stages are cloud-specific. An S3 stage only works with AWS, Azure stages with Blob Storage, and GCS stages with Google Cloud Storage.
Tip 4: For data sharing questions, remember that sharing works across cloud platforms through Snowflake's infrastructure, not through the underlying cloud provider's sharing mechanisms.
Tip 5: Questions about private connectivity will reference the specific service for each cloud (AWS PrivateLink, Azure Private Link, GCP Private Service Connect).
Tip 6: When asked about regional availability or compliance requirements, recognize that the answer may depend on which regions are available for a specific cloud provider.
Tip 7: Snowflake editions (Standard, Enterprise, Business Critical) are available on all three cloud platforms with identical features per edition.
Common Exam Scenarios
Be prepared for questions about: • Identifying cloud providers from account URLs • Understanding cross-cloud data replication requirements • Selecting appropriate external stage types based on cloud provider • Recognizing that compute and storage costs vary by cloud platform and region • Understanding that data cannot be moved between cloud providers within the same account