Databricks-GenAI-Assoc Assembling and Deploying Apps Practice Question
Which security configuration is essential when deploying a model that accesses sensitive data stored in Unity Catalog?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates frequently select broad permissions like 'Workspace Admin' or 'User' roles, failing to recognize that Service Principals must be explicitly scoped to follow the principle of least privilege.
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
✓
Use a Service Principal with scoped permissions for the model.
Accessing sensitive data requires strict adherence to the principle of least privilege. Assigning a specific Service Principal to the model serving endpoint ensures that it only has access to the data necessary for inference. This configuration is critical for security, as it limits the potential blast radius if the model endpoint is ever compromised, maintaining data privacy in line with organizational governance policies.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Grant the endpoint access to the entire Unity Catalog.
Why it's wrong here
Granting excessive access to the entire catalog violates the principle of least privilege and increases security risks significantly. Access should always be limited to only the specific tables or files required by the model for its operation, ensuring that data exposure is minimized in the event of unauthorized access.
- ✓
Use a Service Principal with scoped permissions for the model.
Why this is correct
Using a dedicated Service Principal with finely-tuned permissions ensures that the serving endpoint can only access the specific data assets required for its tasks. This aligns with security best practices by minimizing risk and ensuring that the model does not have broad access to sensitive corporate information.
- ✗
Store credentials in plaintext in the model code.
Why it's wrong here
Storing credentials in plaintext is a catastrophic security failure that exposes secrets to anyone who can read the code. This is an unacceptable practice and is strictly forbidden in any professional environment. Secrets must always be managed using secure tools like Databricks Secrets or Unity Catalog security features.
- ✗
Bypass Unity Catalog to use local file system access.
Why it's wrong here
Bypassing Unity Catalog undermines the central governance and auditing framework that Databricks provides. It prevents the tracking of data lineage and the enforcement of fine-grained access policies, creating significant security and compliance risks that are unacceptable in enterprise-grade applications handling sensitive data.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
About these practice questions
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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-GenAI-Assoc 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-GenAI-Assoc exam.