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200-901 Practice Question: A developer is using a Dockerfile to build an…
A developer is using a Dockerfile to build an image. The image must be based on a minimal Linux distribution to reduce attack surface. Which base image should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the concept that 'minimal' means fewer packages and smaller size, not just a different package manager, and the trap here is that candidates may choose a familiar distribution like Ubuntu or CentOS without considering the attack surface implications of a bloated base image.
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
✓
alpine:latest
Alpine Linux is a minimal Linux distribution designed for security, simplicity, and resource efficiency. Its base image is typically around 5 MB, significantly reducing the attack surface compared to full-featured distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, or CentOS. This makes it the ideal choice for minimizing vulnerabilities in containerized applications.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
alpine:latest
Why this is correct
Alpine is a minimal distribution (~5 MB) ideal for security.
- ✗
ubuntu:latest
Why it's wrong here
Ubuntu is a general-purpose distribution, not minimal.
- ✗
debian:latest
Why it's wrong here
Debian is also larger than Alpine.
- ✗
centos:latest
Why it's wrong here
CentOS is larger and not minimal.
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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.