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200-901 Practice Question: A company uses a CI/CD pipeline to deploy network…
A company uses a CI/CD pipeline to deploy network configurations. The pipeline includes a stage that runs automated tests against a simulated network environment. Which testing strategy does this represent?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between integration testing and unit testing by describing a scenario that involves multiple components interacting, leading candidates to mistakenly choose unit testing because they focus on the word 'automated tests' rather than the environment (simulated network) that implies multi-device interaction.
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
✓
Integration testing
Running automated tests against a simulated network environment validates how multiple network components (e.g., routers, switches, firewalls) interact as a whole. This is integration testing, which focuses on detecting interface and communication failures between integrated units, not on individual components or end-to-end system behavior. In a CI/CD pipeline for network configurations, this stage ensures that the combined changes work together before deployment to production.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Regression testing
Why it's wrong here
Regression testing re-runs existing tests to confirm changes broke nothing previously working; it does not describe testing against a simulated network environment. It is tempting because pipelines routinely include it, and it would be correct when validating that new configuration changes have not broken existing functionality.
- ✗
Unit testing
Why it's wrong here
Unit testing exercises individual functions or classes in isolation, not a simulated network topology. It tempts because CI/CD pipelines do run unit tests, but those validate code logic, whereas testing configurations against a simulated environment requires a dedicated network simulation stage.
- ✓
Integration testing
Why this is correct
Running automated tests against a simulated network environment exercises the interaction between configuration components and the pipeline, verifying they work together as an integrated whole rather than in isolation. This matches integration testing's focus on interfaces and data flow between combined modules.
- ✗
Smoke testing
Why it's wrong here
Smoke testing verifies that a build is stable enough for further testing; it does not exercise configurations against a simulated environment. It is tempting because it also runs early in pipelines, and it would be correct when confirming a deployment's basic viability before deeper test stages.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.