An implementation of the disclosure provides a system for generating low impact snapshots comprising a memory to store application data and a processing device coupled to the memory. The processing device is to identify a plurality of transactions within a cloud computing environment. Each of the transactions comprising an operation associated with a storage device of the cloud computing environment. A transaction queue that is storing identifiers of high and low priority database operations to be performed by an application on the storage device is monitored. (Currently amended) The monitoring indicates how many transactions are currently being processed. A snapshot policy that stores conditions in which a snapshot can be generated without adversely impacting performance of the storage device is evaluated based on the monitored transaction queue. In view of the evaluating, a point-in-time snapshot is generated which includes at least part of the storage device comprising state information for the application.