New Features in Snowflake's Data Governance Dashboard
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Chapter 1: Introduction to the New Dashboard
In May, Snowflake introduced several enhancements that enable users to manage data governance directly within Snowsight. Let's take a closer look at these features, keeping in mind that they are currently in preview mode, so exercise caution before implementing them in a production environment.
The Data Governance interface features a Dashboard tab designed to keep track of the most utilized masking policies, row access policies, and tags along with their application on tables and columns. Additionally, it offers a Tagged Objects tab to provide reports based on the Dashboard data.
For further insights into tagging as a governance strategy, you may want to check out my previous article that discusses how to effectively use tags in Snowflake.
Section 1.1: Accessing the Governance Dashboard
Accessing the governance dashboard is straightforward. Simply navigate to Data >> Governance.
Important considerations regarding the Dashboard and Tagged Objects include:
- The dashboard is accessible only to users with the ACCOUNTADMIN role.
- The Dashboard and Tagged Objects interfaces necessitate an operational warehouse.
- Snowsight refreshes the Dashboard every 12 hours.
- The latency for Tagged Objects information can reach up to two hours and can display a maximum of 1,000 objects.
As you scroll through the Dashboard, you will encounter various sections, including: Most Used Tags for Tables, Most Used Policies for Tables, Most Used Tags for Columns, and Most Used Policies for Columns.
There are two primary tabs within the Governance dashboard: the Dashboard itself and the Tagged Objects tab.
Section 1.2: Exploring the Tagged Objects Tab
In the Tagged Objects tab, you have the ability to sort by either Tables or Columns. Several filters are available, allowing you to focus on specific Tables, Policies, or Tags.
Subsection 1.2.1: User Perspective
While the addition of this dashboard is beneficial, granting the ACCOUNTADMIN role in larger environments can be cumbersome for managing a single dashboard. It would be advantageous to have a dedicated role for this feature.
This dashboard serves as an efficient method for verifying the existence and ongoing assignment of tags, particularly in a dbt-based environment where resources are frequently recreated. There's a risk that Tags may vanish if not monitored closely, especially when employing Tags alongside a Masking Policy to protect sensitive data.
I appreciate the dashboard's clear presentation of tag coverage, which is an essential metric to monitor and could serve as an early alert for potential issues.
Feel free to share your experiences with this feature and how it integrates into your workflow.
I’m Augusto Rosa, VP of Engineering at Infostrux Solutions. Connect with me on LinkedIn. If you enjoy my writing, consider supporting me by subscribing to my Medium account, joining my email list, and applauding my blog posts.
Chapter 2: Video Insights
The first video, "Live: Educational Services for Snowflake Data Governance," delves into the educational aspects of leveraging Snowflake for effective data governance. It covers various strategies and tools that can enhance your governance practices.
The second video, "Behind The Cape: Data Governance in Snowflake With Julie Heckman," features Julie Heckman discussing practical insights and experiences regarding data governance within the Snowflake ecosystem.