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.
Which TWO of the following are common methods for authenticating to Cisco REST APIs? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
API Key
API Key authentication (Option A) is a common method for Cisco REST APIs, such as those on Cisco DNA Center and Meraki, where a pre-generated key is included in the HTTP header (e.g., 'X-Cisco-Meraki-API-Key') to identify the client. OAuth 2.0 (Option D) is widely used in Cisco platforms like Webex Teams and Cisco DNA Center for delegated access, issuing a bearer token after an authorization flow. Both methods are officially supported and documented for Cisco REST API authentication.
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.
✓
API Key
Why this is correct
API keys are a common authentication method for Cisco APIs such as Meraki and DNA Center.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Certificate-based Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Certificate-based authentication is used for specific platforms like NSO, but not the most common.
✗
NTLM Authentication
Why it's wrong here
NTLM is a legacy Microsoft protocol and not typical for Cisco REST APIs.
✓
OAuth 2.0
Why this is correct
OAuth 2.0 is a standard and widely used for Cisco APIs like Webex.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Basic Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Basic authentication is supported but less common and considered less secure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'common' and 'possible' authentication methods, leading candidates to select Basic Authentication (Option E) because it is widely known, even though Cisco REST APIs explicitly recommend against it in favor of API keys or OAuth 2.0.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OAuth 2.0 in Cisco REST APIs typically uses the 'Client Credentials' grant type for server-to-server communication, where the client ID and secret are exchanged for an access token with a defined expiration (e.g., 3600 seconds). API keys are static tokens that must be kept secret and are often scoped to specific resources; for example, Meraki API keys are generated per user and passed in the header without a separate token refresh mechanism. Under the hood, both methods rely on HTTP Authorization headers (Bearer for OAuth 2.0, custom header for API keys) and are validated against Cisco's identity services like Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) or cloud-based authentication servers.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Cisco Platforms and Development — This question tests Cisco Platforms and Development — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: API Key — API Key authentication (Option A) is a common method for Cisco REST APIs, such as those on Cisco DNA Center and Meraki, where a pre-generated key is included in the HTTP header (e.g., 'X-Cisco-Meraki-API-Key') to identify the client. OAuth 2.0 (Option D) is widely used in Cisco platforms like Webex Teams and Cisco DNA Center for delegated access, issuing a bearer token after an authorization flow. Both methods are officially supported and documented for Cisco REST API authentication.
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.
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Question Discussion
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