The Snowflake External Data Share detection rule monitors for data share operations between distinct cloud environments, particularly in scenarios where data is transferred from one cloud to another. This rule aims to flag instances that may represent unauthorized data transfers or potential exfiltration risks. It utilizes logs from Snowflake's Data Transfer History to capture relevant details about the transfers, including the source and target clouds, the size of data transferred, and the acting accounts. The severity of this rule is classified as Medium, reflecting a notable risk without being an immediate threat. The rule involves tests to differentiate between allowed and disallowed shares, enabling the identification of risky cloud transfer behaviors. If an external share is initiated outside of defined parameters, it indicates a potential configuration oversight or malicious intent, warranting further investigation to determine if the action was a legitimate business operation or an illicit transfer.