- A
Secret
Why wrong: Secrets are for sensitive data like passwords and tokens.
- B
Service
Why wrong: A Service provides network access to pods, not configuration.
- C
ConfigMap
ConfigMap stores non-sensitive key-value pairs for configuration.
- D
Deployment
Why wrong: A Deployment manages replicas and updates, not configuration data.
Question 170 of 1,000
200-901 Application Deployment and Security Practice Question
This 200-901 practice question tests your understanding of application deployment and security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team is deploying a microservice that must scale independently. The service uses environment variables for configuration. Which Kubernetes resource should be used to store non-sensitive configuration data separate from the container 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
✓
ConfigMap
ConfigMap is the correct Kubernetes resource for storing non-sensitive configuration data (like environment variables) separately from the container image. This allows the microservice to scale independently because configuration changes can be applied without rebuilding or redeploying the image, enabling stateless, horizontally scalable pods.
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.
- ✗
Secret
Why it's wrong here
Secrets are for sensitive data like passwords and tokens.
- ✗
Service
Why it's wrong here
A Service provides network access to pods, not configuration.
- ✓
ConfigMap
Why this is correct
ConfigMap stores non-sensitive key-value pairs for configuration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deployment
Why it's wrong here
A Deployment manages replicas and updates, not configuration data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between ConfigMap and Secret, trapping candidates who confuse 'configuration data' with 'sensitive data' or who think a Deployment itself stores configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ConfigMaps store key-value pairs or file-like data that can be injected into pods as environment variables, command-line arguments, or volume mounts. Under the hood, ConfigMap data is stored in etcd and can be updated without restarting pods if mounted as volumes (though environment variable injection requires a pod restart). In a real-world scenario, a microservice that reads its database hostname from a ConfigMap can be reconfigured across all replicas by updating the ConfigMap, enabling independent scaling without image changes.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Application Deployment and Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-901 question test?
Application Deployment and Security — This question tests Application Deployment and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ConfigMap — ConfigMap is the correct Kubernetes resource for storing non-sensitive configuration data (like environment variables) separately from the container image. This allows the microservice to scale independently because configuration changes can be applied without rebuilding or redeploying the image, enabling stateless, horizontally scalable pods.
What should I do if I get this 200-901 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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