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200-901 A team is using Git for version control Practice Question
A team is using Git for version control. A developer accidentally committed a sensitive file. Which Git command should be used to remove the file from the repository history while keeping it locally?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between removing a file from future commits (git rm --cached) versus purging it from all history (git filter-branch), trapping candidates who confuse 'keeping locally' with 'removing from history'.
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
✓
git filter-branch
Git filter-branch, because it rewrites the entire repository history to remove a file from all commits, effectively purging it from the version history while leaving the local working copy untouched. This is the standard Git approach for permanently deleting sensitive data (e.g., passwords, API keys) from the repository's history.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
git rebase -i
Why it's wrong here
Interactive rebase can edit commits but does not directly remove files; additional steps like 'git rm' in each commit are needed.
- ✗
git reset --soft
Why it's wrong here
This moves the HEAD pointer but does not remove the file from history; it only resets the index.
- ✗
git rm --cached
Why it's wrong here
This removes the file from the staging area but does not affect past commits; the file remains in history.
- ✓
git filter-branch
Why this is correct
This rewrites history to remove the file from all commits, effectively erasing it from the repository.
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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.