Databricks-DE-Pro Data Sharing and Federation Practice Question
A data engineer at a healthcare company needs to share a Delta table containing patient records with an external research partner. The partner uses a non-Databricks platform and requires read-only access to the latest data, with updates reflected in near real-time. The engineer creates a Delta Share and adds the table. Which additional step is required to allow the partner to access the shared data?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that granting SELECT privileges on the table directly to an external user is sufficient, but Delta Sharing requires a recipient object and credential file for non-Databricks access.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a recipient object and provide the recipient with the activation link or credential file.
For a non-Databricks recipient to access a Delta Share, the provider must create a recipient object in Unity Catalog. This generates an activation link or credential file that the recipient uses to authenticate. The share must contain the table, and the recipient is granted access to the share. This process ensures secure, read-only access without requiring the recipient to have a Databricks account.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a recipient object and provide the recipient with the activation link or credential file.
Why this is correct
To share data with an external partner, you must create a recipient in Unity Catalog, which generates an activation link or a credential file. The recipient uses this to authenticate and access the share. This is the standard procedure for Delta Sharing to non-Databricks users, enabling secure, read-only access to the shared tables.
- ✗
Configure a Databricks SQL warehouse and share its connection string with the recipient.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing a SQL warehouse connection string is not part of Delta Sharing. Delta Sharing provides a secure data exchange protocol that does not require the recipient to access the provider's compute resources. The recipient uses their own compute to read the shared data via the Delta Sharing protocol, so exposing a warehouse is unnecessary and insecure.
- ✗
Grant the recipient's user account SELECT privileges on the shared table.
Why it's wrong here
Granting SELECT privileges on the table is not sufficient for external sharing. The recipient does not have a user account in the provider's Unity Catalog. Instead, access is managed through the share and recipient objects. The recipient's access is defined by the share's contents, not by direct grants on the underlying table.
- ✗
Generate a bearer token for the recipient and provide it along with the share name.
Why it's wrong here
Bearer tokens are used for authentication in some Delta Sharing scenarios, but for a non-Databricks recipient, the standard method is to provide a credential file (often a .share file) that contains the share URL and a token. Simply generating a bearer token without the share URL and configuration details is insufficient. The recipient needs the full activation link or credential file to connect.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Databricks exam blueprint
This Databricks-DE-Pro practice question is part of Courseiva's free Databricks certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the Databricks-DE-Pro exam.