Snowflake Certification Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of a resource monitor in Snowflake?

1. Manage performance tuning

2. Control costs

3. Track query history

4. Manage user roles

The correct answer is: Control costs

The primary purpose of a resource monitor in Snowflake is to control costs. Resource monitors allow organizations to set usage limits on their Snowflake account, helping to track and manage credit consumption based on their specific thresholds. By implementing these monitors, users can receive alerts or suspend warehouse operations when certain consumption limits are reached, thus preventing unexpected charges and ensuring that the use of resources remains aligned with the organization's budgetary constraints. This proactive management of resources is crucial for businesses that need to keep operational expenditures under control while leveraging Snowflake's powerful analytical capabilities. In contrast, other options relate to different functionalities within Snowflake. Performance tuning revolves around optimizing the execution of queries and adjusting resource allocations for better efficiency, while tracking query history pertains to monitoring and analyzing past queries for insights. Managing user roles involves controlling permissions and access within the Snowflake environment, which is a different aspect of account governance.