New Snowflake connector updated - storage integration added

8d ago in General

I know quite a few of you are using/ connecting to Snowflake, so this is worth knowing.

Microsoft have done some work on their Snowflake Data Pipeline connector, you can read more here: https://blog.fabric.microsoft.com/en-gb/blog/announcing-new-storage-integration-support-in-snowflake-connector-for-fabric-data-factory?ft=All

What is Storage Integration?

Storage integration in Snowflake allows data engineers to connect Snowflake with external storage solutions (such as Azure Blob Storage) using a secure and centralized approach. It simplifies the process of reading and writing data between Snowflake and these storage systems while maintaining strict security protocols. Previously, users had to manually configure access roles and manage keys, which could be both cumbersome and error prone. Learn more here.

What are the Key Benefits

Enhanced Security: The feature leverages Snowflake’s storage integration framework, ensuring access to external storage is managed through a Snowflake-assigned role, eliminating the need to expose sensitive credentials. This centralized control enhances security by governing data access and permissions through a single source.
Secure Authentication: Users can now implement more secure authentication methods when connecting to Azure Blob Storage, whether it’s being used as a source, destination or staging storage.
Fine-Grained Control: The feature also respects the PREVENT_UNLOAD_TO_INLINE_URL parameter setting, giving users the option to prevent ad-hoc data unloads to external cloud storage locations. This provides an extra layer of control for managing data flows. Learn more here.