AI-200 Security And Observability Practice Question
Your team is developing an AI solution that uses Azure Cognitive Services. You need to ensure that the API keys cannot be extracted from the client-side mobile application. What is the recommended architectural pattern to achieve this?
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
✓
Implement a backend API proxy (e.g., Azure Functions or API Management) that authenticates mobile clients and calls Cognitive Services using secure server-side keys
Routing mobile client requests through an intermediary backend service (such as Azure API Management or Azure Functions) that holds the API keys securely prevents embedding keys in mobile code.
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 Azure Front Door to strip API keys from incoming mobile requests
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Stripping API keys would cause the backend cognitive service to reject the requests due to missing authentication.
- ✓
Implement a backend API proxy (e.g., Azure Functions or API Management) that authenticates mobile clients and calls Cognitive Services using secure server-side keys
Why this is correct
Correct. Mobile clients should never store secret keys; a backend proxy handles authentication and secure upstream API calls.
- ✗
Store the Cognitive Services API key in an encrypted local SQLite database on the mobile device
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Local device storage can be reverse-engineered and decompiled, exposing API keys.
- ✗
Configure Cognitive Services for anonymous public access and rely on mobile app version checks
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Anonymous access allows anyone to abuse and drain the service quota.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
About these practice questions
One of 503 original AI-200 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. 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 August 2026 · checked against the official Microsoft exam blueprint
This AI-200 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft 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 AI-200 exam.