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.

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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.

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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 Zero-Copy Connectors (part of Workflow Data Fabric) similarly enable querying of external data in real time without persisting it inside ServiceNow—delivering insights while preserving governance and security on existing systems.

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Why Zero-Copy Matters

Real-Time Data Access: Eliminates overnight batch delays. BI dashboards and AI agents always reflect live operational data.

Cost Reduction: No redundant storage. You avoid paying for extra copies or maintaining complex ETL pipelines.

Stronger Governance & Security: When data remains at the source, access controls and audit policies stay centralized and intact.

Simplified Data Flow: Live integrations power AI and automation without complex pipelines, preserving performance and control.

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Zero-Copy Evaluation Checklist

• Do you require real-time or near-real-time access across multiple data sources?
• Are you trying to reduce ETL overhead and redundant pipelines?
• Can your systems support query pushdown at the source?
• Do you need centralized governance without duplicating data?
• Is your infrastructure aligned for live BI, AI, or automation workloads?

If most of these resonate, zero-copy access deserves serious consideration. If you're managing multiple ETL pipelines or fragmented data silos, zero-copy can reduce cost, simplify governance, and accelerate analytics or AI adoption.

Let us know if you'd like help evaluating zero-copy for your stack.