CCSP Cloud Application Security Practice Question
An organization is developing a mobile app that communicates with a cloud API. To ensure secure authentication, which of the following should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that API keys or Basic auth are sufficient for mobile-to-cloud authentication, but the trap is that these methods lack the delegation, token lifecycle management, and identity verification that OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect provides, which is the industry standard (RFC 6749, RFC 7519) for securing mobile API access.
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
✓
OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect
OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect (OIDC) is the correct choice because it provides a delegated authorization framework (OAuth 2.0) combined with an identity layer (OIDC) that enables secure authentication and single sign-on (SSO) for mobile apps communicating with cloud APIs. This combination issues short-lived access tokens and ID tokens (typically JWTs) rather than exposing long-lived credentials, and supports token refresh, scoped permissions, and PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) to prevent authorization code interception on mobile devices.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Session cookies for state management
Why it's wrong here
Cookies are browser-based, not suitable for API calls.
- ✗
Basic authentication with username and password
Why it's wrong here
Basic auth exposes credentials and is not secure for mobile.
- ✓
OAuth 2.0 with OpenID Connect
Why this is correct
Provides delegated authorization and authentication for mobile apps.
- ✗
API keys sent in HTTP headers
Why it's wrong here
API keys identify the app, not the user, and are not authentication.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CCSP exam.