Snowflake Certification Practice Test

Can queries be encrypted on the client side in client-side encryption?

1. True

2. False

3. Only for specific queries

4. Only with special permissions

The correct answer is: False

In the context of client-side encryption, the correct interpretation is that queries cannot be encrypted on the client side. Client-side encryption refers to encryption processes that happen before the data is sent to the server. In many database systems, including Snowflake, while data can be encrypted at rest and in transit, the query itself—meaning the SQL statements or the logic of the query—does not undergo encryption at the client level in a way that affects how the database interprets or executes it. This is because for a query to be processed by a database, the SQL commands must be readable and executable by the database engine. If the queries were encrypted on the client side, the database would not be able to understand or execute them. Therefore, the processing of queries requires them to be in a readable format by the database, which conflicts with the concept of client-side encryption for the entire query. The other options indicate specific conditions for encryption that do not align with the general understanding of how client-side encryption operates in database interactions. Each of those scenarios—specific queries or requiring special permissions—does not represent the typical architecture or operational mandates for executing queries within environments such as Snowflake. Thus, the answer aligns with the fundamental principles of database management and query execution.