Question 752 of 1,000

Cisco Platforms and Development →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

200-901 Cisco Platforms and Development Practice Question

This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of cisco platforms and development. 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 network engineer wants to retrieve a list of all network devices from Cisco DNA Center using the REST API. Which authentication method is required to obtain an access token?

A
OAuth 2.0 client credentials grant
Why wrong: DNA Center does not use OAuth 2.0 for its API authentication.
B
API key in the X-Cisco-Meraki-API-Key header
Why wrong: This is used for Meraki Dashboard API, not DNA Center.
C
Bearer token in the Authorization header directly with no initial authentication
Why wrong: A token must first be obtained using Basic Auth.
D
Basic Authentication with username and password to obtain a token
Correct. The token is obtained via Basic Auth and then used in subsequent requests.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Basic Authentication with username and password to obtain a token

Cisco DNA Center uses Basic Authentication to obtain a token by sending a POST request to /dna/system/api/v1/auth/token with a Basic Auth header. The returned token is then used in subsequent API calls.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
OAuth 2.0 client credentials grant
Why it's wrong here
DNA Center does not use OAuth 2.0 for its API authentication.
✗
API key in the X-Cisco-Meraki-API-Key header
Why it's wrong here
This is used for Meraki Dashboard API, not DNA Center.
✗
Bearer token in the Authorization header directly with no initial authentication
Why it's wrong here
A token must first be obtained using Basic Auth.
✓
Basic Authentication with username and password to obtain a token
Why this is correct
Correct. The token is obtained via Basic Auth and then used in subsequent requests.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 200-901 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 200-901 question test?

Cisco Platforms and Development — This question tests Cisco Platforms and Development — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Basic Authentication with username and password to obtain a token — Cisco DNA Center uses Basic Authentication to obtain a token by sending a POST request to /dna/system/api/v1/auth/token with a Basic Auth header. The returned token is then used in subsequent API calls.

What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026

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