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200-901 Practice Question: Implement a zero-trust model for API access…
A company wants to implement a zero-trust model for API access between microservices. What is the most effective way to authenticate service-to-service communication?
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
✓
Issue short-lived TLS certificates for each service.
Mutual TLS (mTLS) with short-lived certificates validates identity and limits exposure. Options A and D are incorrect because shared secrets and long-lived API keys are less secure. Option B is incorrect because network segmentation is not authentication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Rely on network segmentation with firewalls.
Why it's wrong here
Does not authenticate services.
- ✗
Use a shared secret that all services know.
Why it's wrong here
Shared secrets can be leaked and are hard to rotate.
- ✓
Issue short-lived TLS certificates for each service.
Why this is correct
Provides strong identity verification with mTLS.
- ✗
Use long-lived API keys.
Why it's wrong here
Less secure and difficult to manage.
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JA
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.