easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
200-901 Practice Question: Which TWO are valid methods to secure a REST API?…
Which TWO are valid methods to secure a REST API? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between mechanisms that provide confidentiality/integrity (HTTPS, OAuth 2.0) versus those that only provide availability or weak authentication (rate limiting, HTTP Basic), leading candidates to mistakenly select rate limiting as a security method.
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
✓
Use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
HTTPS (HTTP over TLS) encrypts the entire HTTP conversation, including headers and payload, using Transport Layer Security (TLS). This prevents eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and tampering of data in transit. For a REST API, HTTPS is a fundamental security requirement to protect sensitive data and credentials from being exposed on the network.
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 HTTPS to encrypt data in transit.
Why this is correct
HTTPS encrypts the communication, preventing eavesdropping and tampering.
- ✗
Use HTTP with basic authentication.
Why it's wrong here
HTTP transmits credentials in plaintext; HTTPS is required for security.
- ✗
Embed API keys in the URL query string.
Why it's wrong here
API keys in URLs are exposed in logs and browser history; they should be sent in headers over HTTPS.
- ✗
Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse.
Why it's wrong here
Rate limiting is a control for availability, not a security mechanism for authentication or confidentiality.
- ✓
Implement OAuth 2.0 for token-based access control.
Why this is correct
OAuth 2.0 provides delegated access with scoped tokens, a standard for API security.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-901 question from scratch — 989 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.