Trace3's Guide to Snowflake Security: Best Practices and Insights

By Asher Lohman | Trace3 VP | Data & Analytics

Security is paramount in today's data-driven world, and in Trace3’s position as a leading cybersecurity and data and analytics consulting firm, we pride ourselves on ensuring our clients have the best practices in place to protect their data. This includes our deep expertise in implementing and supporting Snowflake.

Snowflake has been investigating an increase in cyber threat activity targeting some customer-managed accounts, and we believe this activity is the result of ongoing industry-wide identity-based attacks with the intent to obtain customer data. Research indicates these types of attacks are often due to exposed user credentials on customer-owned systems.

Here, we provide an overview of Snowflake's security features and best practices to help you maximize your data security.

Comprehensive Security Overview

Snowflake is designed with security at its core, ensuring your data is protected at every stage. The following provides a breakdown of the key security features with detailed explanations and code examples:

1. Data Encryption

Data Encryption in Transit: Snowflake uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) to encrypt data in transit. This ensures data being transmitted between client applications and Snowflake is secure.

Data Encryption at Rest: Snowflake encrypts all data stored in the platform using AES-256 strong encryption. This includes data stored in tables, temporary files, and backups.

Example Configuration for Encryption: Snowflake automatically handles encryption, but you can verify encryption settings using SQL:

-- Check the encryption status of your account

SELECT system$check_aws_sse_kms_key();

2. Authentication and Access Control

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enabling MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two forms of authentication.

Federated Authentication: Snowflake supports federated authentication using SAML 2.0, allowing integration with identity providers like Okta or Azure AD.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): RBAC allows you to define roles and permissions, ensuring users only access the data they need.

Example Configuration for MFA: To enable MFA for a user:

-- Enable MFA for a specific user

ALTER USER user_name SET MFA_ENABLED = TRUE;

Example Configuration for RBAC:

-- Create a role

CREATE ROLE data_engineer;

-- Grant privileges to the role

GRANT SELECT ON DATABASE my_database TO ROLE data_engineer;

-- Assign the role to a user

GRANT ROLE data_engineer TO USER user_name;

3. Network Security

Virtual Private Snowflake (VPS): VPS provides complete network isolation using dedicated virtual private clouds (VPCs) for each customer.

Private Connectivity Options: Snowflake supports AWS PrivateLink, Azure Private Link, and Google Cloud Private Service Connect to eliminate public internet exposure.

Example Configuration for Network Policies:

-- Create a network policy to restrict access by IP

CREATE NETWORK POLICY my_network_policy

ALLOWED_IP_LIST = ('192.168.1.0/24', '203.0.113.0/24');

-- Assign the network policy to a user

ALTER USER user_name SET NETWORK_POLICY = my_network_policy;

4. Data Masking and Redaction

Dynamic Data Masking: Snowflake allows you to obscure sensitive data for users without the necessary permissions.

Example Configuration for Data Masking:

-- Create a masking policy

CREATE MASKING POLICY ssn_masking AS (val STRING)

RETURNS STRING ->

CASE

   WHEN CURRENT_ROLE() IN ('HR_ROLE') THEN val

   ELSE 'XXX-XX-XXXX'

END;

-- Apply the masking policy to a column

ALTER TABLE employees MODIFY COLUMN ssn SET MASKING POLICY ssn_masking;

5. Monitoring and Auditing

Comprehensive Logging: Snowflake logs all user activity, including login attempts, queries, data changes, and role grants.

Integration with SIEM: Integrate Snowflake logs with SIEM tools for centralized monitoring and analysis.

Example Query for User Activity Logging:

-- Query login history

SELECT * FROM snowflake.account_usage.login_history

WHERE EVENT_TIMESTAMP > CURRENT_DATE() - INTERVAL '7 days';

Example Query for Query History:

-- Query user query history

SELECT * FROM snowflake.account_usage.query_history

WHERE EXECUTION_STATUS = 'SUCCESS'

AND START_TIME > CURRENT_DATE() - INTERVAL '1 day';

Best Practices for Enhancing Security

To ensure your Snowflake environment remains secure, follow these best practices:

1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Always enable MFA for all user accounts to add an extra layer of security. This helps prevent unauthorized access even if user credentials are compromised.

Example Configuration for MFA:

-- Enable MFA for all users in the account

ALTER ACCOUNT SET MFA_ENABLED = TRUE;

2. Implement Strong Password Policies: Ensure your organization enforces strong password policies. Regularly update passwords and avoid using easily guessable information.

Example Configuration for Password Policies:

-- Create a password policy

CREATE PASSWORD POLICY strong_password_policy

MIN_LENGTH = 12

REQUIRE_UPPERCASE = TRUE

REQUIRE_LOWERCASE = TRUE

REQUIRE_NUMERIC = TRUE

REQUIRE_SPECIAL_CHARACTER = TRUE;

-- Apply the password policy to a user

ALTER USER user_name SET PASSWORD_POLICY = strong_password_policy;

3. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Leverage RBAC to assign roles and permissions based on the principle of least privilege. Regularly review and update roles to reflect changes in user responsibilities.

Example Configuration for RBAC:

-- Create a custom role

CREATE ROLE data_analyst;

 -- Grant specific privileges to the role

GRANT SELECT ON SCHEMA my_schema TO ROLE data_analyst;

-- Assign the role to a user

GRANT ROLE data_analyst TO USER user_name;

4. Regularly Audit User Activities: Utilize Snowflake's auditing features to regularly review user activities. This helps in identifying suspicious behavior and ensuring compliance with security policies.

Example Query for Auditing:

-- Audit user activities

SELECT * FROM snowflake.account_usage.access_history

WHERE EVENT_TIMESTAMP > CURRENT_DATE() - INTERVAL '30 days';

5. Stay Updated with Security Patches: Regularly update your Snowflake environment with the latest security patches and updates. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities and threats.

Detailed Security Features of Snowflake

1. Automatic Data Encryption: All data within Snowflake is encrypted using AES-256 strong encryption, both at rest and in transit. This includes metadata, data stored in tables, temporary files, and backups. Encryption keys are managed using a hierarchy of master keys, with regular rotation and separation of duties to minimize risk.

Example Query to Verify Encryption:

-- Verify encryption settings

SELECT system$check_encryption();

2. Secure Data Sharing: Snowflake allows secure data sharing without copying data or using complex integrations. Data can be shared with external organizations securely while retaining control over access permissions and revocation at any time.

Example Configuration for Secure Data Sharing:

-- Create a share

CREATE SHARE my_share;

-- Add a table to the share

ALTER SHARE my_share ADD TABLE my_database.my_schema.my_table;

 -- Grant access to a consumer account

GRANT USAGE ON SHARE my_share TO ACCOUNT consumer_account;

3. Network Isolation: Virtual Private Snowflake (VPS) provides complete network isolation using dedicated virtual private clouds (VPCs) for each customer. Options like AWS PrivateLink, Azure Private Link, and Google Cloud Private Service Connect further enhance network security by eliminating public internet exposure.

Example Configuration for VPS:

-- Setup VPS (Note: This is a simplified example, actual configuration may vary)

CREATE VPC ENDPOINT my_vpc_endpoint

SERVICE_NAME = 'com.amazonaws.vpce.service-id';

-- Attach the VPC endpoint to Snowflake

ALTER ACCOUNT SET VPC_ENDPOINT = my_vpc_endpoint;

4. Granular Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): RBAC in Snowflake supports the principle of least privilege, allowing administrators to define roles and assign permissions at a granular level. This ensures users have only the access necessary for their job functions, reducing the risk of data breaches.

Example Configuration for Granular RBAC:

-- Create a new role with specific privileges

CREATE ROLE financial_analyst;

-- Grant specific table access to the role

GRANT SELECT ON TABLE finance_db.public.transactions TO ROLE financial_analyst;

-- Assign the role to a user

GRANT ROLE financial_analyst TO USER user_name;

5. Comprehensive Logging and Monitoring: Snowflake logs all user activity, including login attempts, queries, data changes, and role grants. Integration with security information and event management (SIEM) tools allows for centralized monitoring and analysis, helping detect and respond to threats in real-time.

Example Query for Logging and Monitoring:

sql

Copy code

-- Retrieve query history for the last 7 days

SELECT * FROM snowflake.account_usage.query_history

WHERE START_TIME > CURRENT_DATE() - INTERVAL '7 days';

6. Support for Regulatory Compliance: Snowflake helps organizations meet regulatory compliance requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA, by providing features like data masking, access controls, encryption, and detailed auditing. Compliance certifications, including SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001, further demonstrate Snowflake’s commitment to security.

Example Configuration for Compliance:

-- Create a masking policy for GDPR compliance

CREATE MASKING POLICY email_masking AS (val STRING)

RETURNS STRING ->

CASE

   WHEN CURRENT_ROLE() IN ('COMPLIANCE_ROLE') THEN val

   ELSE '********@****.com'

END;

-- Apply the masking policy to an email column

ALTER TABLE customers MODIFY COLUMN email SET MASKING POLICY email_masking;

7. Advanced Threat Detection: Snowflake’s security framework includes threat detection mechanisms such as anomaly detection and integration with third-party security tools. This helps identify unusual patterns of behavior, such as abnormal login attempts or unexpected data access, and triggers alerts for further investigation.

Example Configuration for Threat Detection:

-- Example integration with a third-party SIEM for anomaly detection

CREATE ALERT abnormal_login

CONDITION (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM snowflake.account_usage.login_history

             WHERE LOGIN_TIMESTAMP > CURRENT_DATE() - INTERVAL '1 hour'

             AND LOGIN_SOURCE NOT IN ('trusted_ip1', 'trusted_ip2') > 10)

ACTION (SELECT system$send_alert('abnormal_login', 'Multiple abnormal logins detected'));

8. Data Masking and Tokenization: Sensitive data can be masked or tokenized to prevent unauthorized access. Masking policies can be applied dynamically based on user roles, ensuring sensitive information remains protected while allowing necessary operations on the data.

Example Configuration for Tokenization:

-- Create a tokenization function

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION tokenize_ssn(ssn STRING)

RETURNS STRING

LANGUAGE JAVASCRIPT

AS $$

return ssn.split('').map((char, index) => index < 5 ? '*' : char).join('');

$$;

-- Apply the tokenization function to a column

UPDATE employees SET ssn = tokenize_ssn(ssn);

Conclusion

At Trace3, we understand securing your data is critical. By leveraging Snowflake's robust security features and following best practices, you can ensure your data remains protected against evolving threats. For more detailed information, visit Snowflake's official Security Overview and Best Practices.

For expert guidance and support in implementing and optimizing Snowflake security for your organization, contact Trace3 today. We are here to help you safeguard your data and achieve your business objectives with confidence.

A seasoned change agent with cross-functional responsibilities throughout the technology space in many different industries such as transportation, healthcare, financial, and consumer services. Jack-of-all-trades expertise in areas such as advanced analytics, data science, technology operations, infrastructure architecture, innovation, emerging technology, product development, DevOps, and Site Reliability Engineering for companies ranging from Fortune 250, to private equity, to start-ups. Executive level leadership with deep technical expertise. Excellent people skills, attention to detail and work ethic. A self starter and strategic visionary. Entrepreneurial spirit.