EX294 Manage automation security and operations Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of manage automation security and operations. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
An organization requires that all Ansible playbooks be executed using a specific service account that has limited permissions. The account can only run playbooks from a specific directory. Which approach best enforces this requirement in automation controller?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a project that syncs only the authorized directory, and assign the service account as the only user with execute permissions on that project.
Option C is correct because Automation Controller (formerly Ansible Tower) uses Projects to manage playbook source code. By creating a Project that syncs only the authorized directory and assigning the service account as the only user with execute permissions on that Project, you restrict the service account to running playbooks exclusively from that directory. This enforces the requirement at the platform level, leveraging role-based access control (RBAC) within the controller.
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.
✗
Use an inventory that contains only the allowed hosts.
Why it's wrong here
Inventory does not restrict which playbooks can be run.
✗
Configure an execution environment that mounts the authorized directory as read-only.
Why it's wrong here
Execution environments provide runtime dependencies, not execution path restrictions.
✓
Create a project that syncs only the authorized directory, and assign the service account as the only user with execute permissions on that project.
Why this is correct
Projects control source of playbooks; RBAC can restrict execution to that project.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign the service account a machine credential that connects to the controller via SSH.
Why it's wrong here
Machine credentials provide authentication, not path restrictions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse execution environments (containers) with project-level access controls, or mistakenly think inventory or credentials can restrict which playbook directory is used, when in fact only Project permissions enforce that restriction in Automation Controller.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In Automation Controller, a Project is a logical collection of Ansible playbooks sourced from a version control system (e.g., Git). RBAC allows you to assign specific users or teams with 'Execute' permissions on a Project, meaning they can only launch job templates that reference that Project. The service account's permissions are enforced by the controller's authentication and authorization layer, not by filesystem permissions on the control node. This ensures that even if the account has SSH access to the controller, it cannot run arbitrary playbooks outside the authorized Project directory.
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 practitioner preparing for the EX294 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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.
Manage automation security and operations — This question tests Manage automation security and operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a project that syncs only the authorized directory, and assign the service account as the only user with execute permissions on that project. — Option C is correct because Automation Controller (formerly Ansible Tower) uses Projects to manage playbook source code. By creating a Project that syncs only the authorized directory and assigning the service account as the only user with execute permissions on that Project, you restrict the service account to running playbooks exclusively from that directory. This enforces the requirement at the platform level, leveraging role-based access control (RBAC) within the controller.
What should I do if I get this EX294 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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