Zero‑copy, or “no-copy”, data access lets analytics, BI tools, and AI models query data directly where it resides, with no data extraction or duplication. That means real-time visibility, reduced storage and ETL costs, and simpler governance. Platforms like Salesforce Data Cloud and ServiceNow now offer production-ready zero‑copy integration layered over Snowflake, Databricks, and other warehouses –enabling security-first, live access at scale.
What Is Zero‑Copy Data Access?
Zero‑copy, also known as data federation, enables data consumers to query data at its source without creating a copy. Unlike traditional ETL, which extracts, transforms, and loads data into centralized stores, zero‑copy orchestrates queries dynamically, executing them at the source and returning only the needed results. This architecture eliminates duplication, staging, and latency.
How It Works in Practice
Modern platforms like Salesforce Data Cloud provide zero‑copy access (sometimes called “Bring Your Own Lake”) by pushing queries into source systems like Snowflake or Databricks. Query execution happens in the data source, not in a replicated copy, ensuring fresher results and lower cost. ServiceNow’s new Zero‑Copy Connectors (part of Workflow Data Fabric) similarly enable querying of external data in real-time without persisting it inside ServiceNow. Insights delivered WHILE preserving governance and security on existing systems.
Why Zero‑Copy Matters
Real‑Time Data Access: Eliminates overnight batch delays. Your BI dashboards and AI agents always reflect live data from operational systems.
Cost Reduction: No redundant storage. You avoid paying for extra copies or maintaining complex ETL pipelines, cutting both storage and operational costs.
Stronger Governance & Security: When data remains at the source, governance and access policies stay centralized. There's no need to manage access rules across multiple data copies, and auditability stays intact.
Simplified Data Flow: Recent integrations (such as ServiceNow with Snowflake) show how real-time data workflows can power AI or automation without complex pipelines. Live access happens without moving data, preserving performance and control.
Zero‑Copy Evaluation Checklist- Do you require real-time or near-real-time access from multiple data sources?
- Are you trying to limit ETL overhead and avoid redundant pipelines?
- Can you support query orchestration and pushdown (execute queries at the source)?
- Do you need centralized governance without replicating data?
- Is your infrastructure aligned for live, multi-source access (e.g., BI, AI, operational automation)?
If most of the above checks make sense, zero‑copy access deserves serious consideration. Review your current data architecture. If you're managing multiple ETL pipelines or data silos, zero‑copy may help reduce cost, simplify governance, and accelerate analytics or AI adoption.
Let us know if you’d like help evaluating zero‑copy for your stack.