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.
Which of the following is a best practice for securing API keys in a CI/CD pipeline?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Share via email
Email is not secure for sharing API keys.
Hardcode in Dockerfile
Why wrong: Hardcoding secrets in Dockerfile makes them visible in image layers.
Store them in source code
Why wrong: Storing secrets in source code is insecure and violates best practices.
Use environment variables in build configuration
Why wrong: Environment variables are a secure way to pass secrets without exposing them in code.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Share via email
Option A is correct because sharing API keys via email is not a best practice; the correct best practice is to use environment variables in the build configuration (Option D). Environment variables keep secrets out of source code, Dockerfiles, and insecure communication channels like email, ensuring they are injected at runtime and not exposed in logs or artifacts.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Share via email
Why this is correct
Email is not secure for sharing API keys.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Hardcode in Dockerfile
Why it's wrong here
Hardcoding secrets in Dockerfile makes them visible in image layers.
Store them in source code
Why it's wrong here
Storing secrets in source code is insecure and violates best practices.
Use environment variables in build configuration
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables are a secure way to pass secrets without exposing them in code.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that environment variables in build configuration are a fully secure method, but the trap is that they can still be exposed in logs or pipeline artifacts, whereas a dedicated secrets manager is the true best practice.
Detailed technical explanation
In CI/CD pipelines, secrets should be injected via secure secret stores like HashiCorp Vault or cloud-native services (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault) that provide encryption at rest and in transit, audit logging, and dynamic rotation. Environment variables in build configuration (Option D) are often stored in plaintext in the pipeline YAML or UI, which can be exposed in build logs or through misconfigured permissions. A real-world scenario: a developer accidentally prints all environment variables in a debug step, leaking the API key to the build output — a vault integration prevents this by never exposing the secret value in the pipeline context.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Application Deployment and Security — This question tests Application Deployment and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Share via email — Option A is correct because sharing API keys via email is not a best practice; the correct best practice is to use environment variables in the build configuration (Option D). Environment variables keep secrets out of source code, Dockerfiles, and insecure communication channels like email, ensuring they are injected at runtime and not exposed in logs or artifacts.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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