200-901 Software Development and Design Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of software development and design. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 network engineer is designing a REST API using Python Flask to allow provisioning of VPN tunnels. The API must support multiple clients and must be secure. Which approach is most appropriate for authenticating and authorizing API requests?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Issue API tokens to each client and validate them on each request
API tokens with scopes are a common and secure method for REST APIs, allowing fine-grained access control. Basic auth with dictionary is outdated and insecure. OAuth 2.0 with client credentials is best for machine-to-machine, but given options, API tokens are most appropriate.
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.
✗
Use OAuth 2.0 with client credentials grant
Why it's wrong here
OAuth 2.0 is also good, but among these options, API tokens are more straightforward for internal use.
✗
Use HTTP Basic Authentication with a dictionary of usernames and passwords
Why it's wrong here
Basic auth sends credentials in plaintext (unless over HTTPS) and is not recommended for APIs.
✗
Embed a shared secret in each client's source code
Why it's wrong here
Embedded secrets are insecure and hard to rotate.
✓
Issue API tokens to each client and validate them on each request
Why this is correct
API tokens are a standard, secure method for API authentication and can include scopes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 200-901 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Software Development and Design — This question tests Software Development and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Issue API tokens to each client and validate them on each request — API tokens with scopes are a common and secure method for REST APIs, allowing fine-grained access control. Basic auth with dictionary is outdated and insecure. OAuth 2.0 with client credentials is best for machine-to-machine, but given options, API tokens are most appropriate.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which 200-901 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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