Quick Answer
The answer is to use Ansible Vault for securing SSH credentials. This is the correct security practice because Ansible Vault encrypts sensitive data like SSH private keys and passwords at rest, storing them as encrypted files or variables within your playbooks and inventory. At runtime, the vault decrypts this data using a password or key file, ensuring plain-text credentials are never exposed on the centralized automation server. On the Cisco DevNet Associate 200-901 exam, this concept tests your understanding of secure automation workflows, often appearing in questions about protecting secrets in CI/CD pipelines or multi-user environments. A common trap is assuming environment variables or plain-text inventory files are sufficient, but the exam emphasizes that Ansible Vault is the built-in, recommended mechanism for credential encryption. Remember the mnemonic: Vaults lock secrets, Ansible unlocks them at runtime.
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure and automation. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses a centralized automation server that runs Ansible playbooks. What is the best security practice for storing SSH credentials?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Store credentials in a public repository
Why wrong: Exposes secrets.
Use Ansible Vault
Ansible Vault encrypts secrets.
Hardcode credentials in playbooks
Why wrong: Insecure and not scalable.
Use plain text inventory files
Why wrong: Insecure.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use Ansible Vault
Ansible Vault is the recommended security practice for encrypting sensitive data like SSH credentials. It allows you to store encrypted variables and files within your playbooks or inventory, protecting secrets at rest while enabling decryption at runtime via a password or key file. This avoids exposing credentials in plain text, which is critical for centralized automation servers that may be accessed by multiple users or integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Store credentials in a public repository
Why it's wrong here
Exposes secrets.
Use Ansible Vault
Why this is correct
Ansible Vault encrypts secrets.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Hardcode credentials in playbooks
Why it's wrong here
Insecure and not scalable.
Use plain text inventory files
Why it's wrong here
Insecure.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that 'inventory files are safe if stored locally' or that 'hardcoding is acceptable for small teams,' but the exam expects candidates to recognize that any plain text storage of credentials violates security best practices, and Ansible Vault is the standard built-in solution for encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
Ansible Vault uses AES-256 encryption (specifically AES-CTR with a PBKDF2-derived key) to encrypt YAML files, and the decryption key can be provided via --ask-vault-pass, a vault password file, or integrated with external secret managers like HashiCorp Vault. In a centralized automation server, best practice involves storing the vault password in a secure secrets management system or using an Ansible Vault ID to support multiple encrypted files with different keys. A common real-world scenario is using Ansible Tower or AWX, which natively integrates with Ansible Vault and allows credential lookup without exposing the plaintext password in logs or job outputs.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 200-901 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Infrastructure and Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Infrastructure and Automation — This question tests Infrastructure and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use Ansible Vault — Ansible Vault is the recommended security practice for encrypting sensitive data like SSH credentials. It allows you to store encrypted variables and files within your playbooks or inventory, protecting secrets at rest while enabling decryption at runtime via a password or key file. This avoids exposing credentials in plain text, which is critical for centralized automation servers that may be accessed by multiple users or integrated into CI/CD pipelines.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This 200-901 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco 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 200-901 exam.
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