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200-901 Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are common methods for…
Which TWO of the following are common methods for authenticating to Cisco REST APIs? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
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.
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
✓
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.
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.
- ✗
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.
- ✗
Basic Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Basic authentication is supported but less common and considered less secure.
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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.