LESSON 09 / 16·2 min readIntermediate

Guardrails and Authorization

Must knowConcept lesson
01 Understand02 Recall03 Prepare

A robust architecture uses multiple layers of protection:

  1. Input and extraction validation: Ensure extracted fields have valid types, formats, and allowed values.
  2. Intent scope checks: Reject or redirect unsupported requests.
  3. Authentication and authorization: Verify identity and permission to access a record or perform an action.
  4. Deterministic business rules: Enforce mandatory checks and valid transitions.
  5. Confirmation gates: Require explicit user approval for sensitive actions.
  6. Idempotency and duplicate protection: Prevent accidental repeated actions.
  7. Audit logging: Preserve evidence of what happened and why.

These controls should be enforced in application code and trusted services, not merely requested in an LLM prompt.

PAUSE & RECALL

Can you explain it without the notes?

Guardrails and Authorization

Use your own words. Explain an example and one limitation before checking the explanation.

Check your explanation

A robust architecture uses multiple layers of protection:

CONNECT IT TO YOUR INTERVIEW

Turn this concept into a clear answer.

Practice this concept
YOUR NEXT STEP

Keep connecting the ideas.

Next lesson: Connectors and External Actions

Adapted from 19_deterministic_workflow_engine_learnings.md · “8. Guardrails and Authorization”. Examples are study fragments; framework behavior can depend on your version.