1Y0-204 Secure Access Practice Question
A Citrix Administrator is configuring a Citrix Gateway virtual server to allow external users to access published applications. The administrator wants to enforce that external users must authenticate using their Active Directory credentials before they can access any resources. Which authentication policy should the administrator configure on the Citrix Gateway?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse authentication methods: assuming that any authentication policy that can integrate with AD (like RADIUS or SAML) is equivalent to direct LDAP authentication.
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
✓
LDAP authentication policy
The requirement is to authenticate external users with their Active Directory credentials. LDAP authentication policy on Citrix Gateway directly queries Active Directory, validating username and password. This is the simplest and most direct method to enforce AD authentication for external access to published applications. Other methods like RADIUS, client certificate, or SAML either require additional components or do not directly use AD credentials.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SAML authentication policy
Why it's wrong here
SAML authentication policy is used for federated authentication with an identity provider, such as Microsoft Entra ID or ADFS. It does not directly authenticate against on-premises Active Directory using LDAP. The scenario requires direct AD credential validation, so SAML would introduce unnecessary complexity and not meet the requirement natively.
- ✗
Client certificate authentication policy
Why it's wrong here
Client certificate authentication policy requires users to present a client certificate for authentication. This does not enforce AD username and password authentication. While it can be part of a multi-factor authentication setup, it does not satisfy the requirement of using Active Directory credentials as the primary authentication method.
- ✓
LDAP authentication policy
Why this is correct
LDAP authentication policy allows the Citrix Gateway to validate user credentials against Active Directory. This meets the requirement of authenticating external users with their AD credentials before granting access to published applications. It is the standard method for integrating Citrix Gateway with AD for authentication.
- ✗
RADIUS authentication policy
Why it's wrong here
RADIUS authentication policy is used when authenticating against a RADIUS server, such as for two-factor authentication. While it can be used with AD via a RADIUS proxy, it does not directly validate AD credentials and requires additional infrastructure. The scenario specifically requires AD credentials, making LDAP the more direct and appropriate choice.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
About these practice questions
This 1Y0-204 question is part of Courseiva's 216-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Citrix exam blueprint
This 1Y0-204 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Citrix 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 1Y0-204 exam.