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200-901 Practice Question: A DevOps engineer is configuring a CI/CD pipeline…
A DevOps engineer is configuring a CI/CD pipeline that uses Cisco DNA Center API to deploy network configurations. Which two best practices should be followed? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the misconception that disabling SSL verification speeds up execution, but in reality, the overhead is negligible, and the security risk makes it unacceptable in any production pipeline.
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
✓
Store API credentials in environment variables
Storing API credentials in environment variables (Option C) is a security best practice because it prevents hardcoding secrets in source code, which could be exposed in version control. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and is recommended for CI/CD pipelines interacting with Cisco DNA Center API, as it allows credentials to be managed externally and rotated without code changes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a single API call for all changes
Why it's wrong here
Not always possible and can lead to large payloads.
- ✗
Disable SSL verification for faster execution
Why it's wrong here
Disabling SSL creates a security vulnerability.
- ✓
Store API credentials in environment variables
Why this is correct
Keeps secrets out of code and version control.
- ✓
Implement retry logic for API calls
Why this is correct
Handles transient network errors and rate limiting.
- ✗
Use hardcoded API keys in scripts
Why it's wrong here
Hardcoding secrets is a security risk.
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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.