Introduction to private RAG

RAG is a knowledge system

Retrieval-augmented generation connects governed source content to model behavior. The system includes acquisition, extraction, transformation, chunking, metadata, permissions, indexing, query processing, retrieval, reranking, context assembly, generation, citation, evaluation, and deletion.

Private hosting does not automatically preserve source permissions, prevent prompt injection, produce grounded answers, or keep sensitive content out of logs. These properties require architecture and tests.

Design principles

• Preserve source identity, classification, ownership, permissions, version, and lineage.
• Enforce authorization deterministically before content reaches the model.
• Treat retrieved content as untrusted data, not instructions.
• Make citations verifiable and define supported no-answer behavior.
• Evaluate retrieval and generation separately and together.
• Detect stale, deleted, poisoned, or permission-changed content.
• Minimize sensitive content in telemetry and evaluation artifacts.

Module outcome

You will produce a knowledge-source register, ingestion and permission design, retrieval and answer contract, evaluation set, release gate, and operational evidence package using synthetic or explicitly approved content.