Snowflake offers the ultimate cloud-built data platform to companies of all sizes. It allows them to achieve instant scalability. With endless options, users are spoilt with choice. This multi-cluster, shared data architecture enables multiple users to run workloads simultaneously while accessing the same structure. Besides the core capabilities of Snowflake, there are certain features ways through which organizations can improve their Snowflake Security. This post shares the top tips that will help you boost security on the platform. Let’s take a look at these tips.
Table of Contents
1. Limit Strong Roles Usage
Many Snowflake data warehouses use strong roles such as ACCOUNTADMIN. Based on the principle of least privileged data access, it poses a huge risk which should be avoided at all costs. It is better to treat ACCOUNTADMIN as a root account and to avoid its direct us. For instance, data can be read from tables. In addition to this, you should avoid configuring it as the default role for the users, even if access is provided to the role.
2. Restrict Strong Roles Allocation
Next, you also need to limit the amount of users that are granted the roles. It just isn’t enough to limit strong roles usage. You have to make sure that these roles are kept to an absolute minimum. Besides, you cannot provide so much power to many users. It would be ideal for you to allocate ACCOUNTADMIN to a maximum to two users and not more. Always remember that the keys to the kingdom can only be given to a few. Only executives can have complete control. Therefore, you need to access administrative roles to prioritize risk reduction.
3. Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authorization)
One of the best ways to improve your Snowflake security is by enabling multi-factor authorization. It might not offer a quick win, but it will reduce the number of users who are given administrative roles. At the very least, you can restrict access to administrative roles by adding MFA. It will help deal with the riskiest of users.
4. Always Keep Failed Logins in Mind
Now, if you want to improve your Snowflake security, you cannot forget about failed logins. Failed logins to the system might have critical implications such as an ex-employee trying to login. It is crucial that you check for failed login attempts. It is something that needs to be integrated with other reporting and monitoring. To have a quick look at the top failed logins, you can check “what’s going on”. Set up login failures for direct review from the dashboard.
5. Revoke Access to Dormant Users
Regardless of how you look at inactive users, they pose a huge threat to your Snowflake security. This is why it makes sense to revoke their access. If you provide them with the capability to access data, they might modify or even delete the data. Since they are no longer of value, you ought to revoke their access.
Conclusion
Boost your Snowflake security by following the tips mentioned above. The importance of improving your Snowflake security cannot be stressed enough. Hence, you should follow the tips.
