200-901 Application Deployment and Security Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of application deployment and security. 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 developer is deploying a containerized application using Docker Compose. Which TWO statements about Docker Compose are correct?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The docker-compose up command builds, (re)creates, starts, and attaches to containers for a service.
Option C is correct because `docker-compose up` is the primary command that builds images if needed, (re)creates containers, starts them, and attaches to their output. This behavior is documented in the Docker Compose CLI reference and is fundamental to how Compose orchestrates multi-service deployments.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Docker Compose can only be used with swarm mode.
Why it's wrong here
Compose works standalone without swarm.
✗
Services in a compose file can be scaled using the docker-compose scale command.
Why it's wrong here
The scale command is deprecated; use up --scale instead.
✓
The docker-compose up command builds, (re)creates, starts, and attaches to containers for a service.
Why this is correct
This is the behavior of docker-compose up.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Docker Compose is used to define and run multi-container Docker applications.
Why this is correct
This is the primary purpose of Docker Compose.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Docker Compose files are written in JSON format only.
Why it's wrong here
YAML is the default format; JSON is also supported but not only.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that Docker Compose is only for swarm mode or that it requires JSON files, when in fact it works standalone and uses YAML as its native format.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The scale command is deprecated; use up --scale instead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, `docker-compose up` parses the YAML file, resolves service dependencies, and uses the Docker Engine API to create networks, volumes, and containers in the correct order. A subtle behavior is that if a container already exists and its configuration hasn't changed, Compose will reuse it unless the `--force-recreate` flag is used, which is critical for understanding idempotent deployments.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Application Deployment and Security — This question tests Application Deployment and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The docker-compose up command builds, (re)creates, starts, and attaches to containers for a service. — Option C is correct because `docker-compose up` is the primary command that builds images if needed, (re)creates containers, starts them, and attaches to their output. This behavior is documented in the Docker Compose CLI reference and is fundamental to how Compose orchestrates multi-service deployments.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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