SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is designing a new serverless application that uses Amazon API Gateway and AWS Lambda. The application must authenticate users using a third-party identity provider (IdP) that supports OpenID Connect (OIDC). The company wants to offload authentication to the API Gateway. Which solution should the architect recommend?
Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with Cognito configured as an OIDC client to the third-party IdP
Cognito can federate with OIDC IdPs, and API Gateway validates the Cognito token.
B
Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer
Why wrong: Cognito user pools can be used as an OIDC identity provider, but the authorizer itself validates Cognito tokens, not directly from a third-party IdP.
C
Use an API Gateway Lambda authorizer
Why wrong: Lambda authorizer is custom and does not offload authentication.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with Cognito configured as an OIDC client to the third-party IdP
Option D is correct because API Gateway can use a COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with an OIDC identity provider for authentication. Option A is wrong because COGNITO_USER_POOLS supports OIDC, but Cognito must be configured as an OIDC client. Option B is wrong because Lambda authorizers are custom, not offloading authentication. Option C is wrong because IAM authorization is for AWS credentials, not OIDC.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with Cognito configured as an OIDC client to the third-party IdP
Why this is correct
Cognito can federate with OIDC IdPs, and API Gateway validates the Cognito token.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer
Why it's wrong here
Cognito user pools can be used as an OIDC identity provider, but the authorizer itself validates Cognito tokens, not directly from a third-party IdP.
✗
Use an API Gateway Lambda authorizer
Why it's wrong here
Lambda authorizer is custom and does not offload authentication.
✗
Use an API Gateway IAM authorizer
Why it's wrong here
IAM authorizer uses AWS IAM, not OIDC.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SAP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an API Gateway COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with Cognito configured as an OIDC client to the third-party IdP — Option D is correct because API Gateway can use a COGNITO_USER_POOLS authorizer with an OIDC identity provider for authentication. Option A is wrong because COGNITO_USER_POOLS supports OIDC, but Cognito must be configured as an OIDC client. Option B is wrong because Lambda authorizers are custom, not offloading authentication. Option C is wrong because IAM authorization is for AWS credentials, not OIDC.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SAP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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