200-901 Infrastructure and Automation Practice Question
A large enterprise uses Cisco SD-Access with fabric automation. The network administrator wants to automate the process of adding a new user device to a specific virtual network (VN) based on its MAC address. Which API or tool should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between fabric provisioning tools (DNA Center) and policy enforcement tools (ISE), so the trap here is assuming that DNA Center's REST API can directly manage endpoint-to-VN mappings, when in fact ISE is the correct tool for identity-based VN assignment in SD-Access.
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
✓
Cisco ISE REST API
Cisco ISE REST API is the correct choice because ISE is the policy and authentication engine in SD-Access that manages endpoint identity and virtual network (VN) assignments. When a new user device is added, the administrator can use the ISE REST API to programmatically create an endpoint entry with its MAC address and map it to a specific VN, leveraging ISE's policy sets and authorization profiles. This directly automates the VN assignment without requiring changes to fabric underlay or overlay configurations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Cisco ISE REST API
Why this is correct
ISE manages endpoint identities and can assign VNs based on MAC.
- ✗
Ansible playbook with ios_config
Why it's wrong here
Ansible is not fabric-aware for SD-Access.
- ✗
Cisco DNA Center REST API
Why it's wrong here
DNA Center manages fabric but uses ISE for endpoint policy.
- ✗
Cisco APIC-EM REST API
Why it's wrong here
APIC-EM is deprecated and not used for SD-Access.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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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.