EX294 Manage automation security and operations Practice Question
This EX294 practice question tests your understanding of manage automation security and operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Exhibit
TASK [deploy app] **************************************************************
fatal: [web01.example.com]: FAILED! => {"changed": false, "msg": "Failed to connect to the host via ssh: Permission denied (publickey,gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic).", "unreachable": true}
Refer to the exhibit. An automation job failed with the given error. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The SSH key is not authorized for the remote user
The error message indicates an SSH authentication failure, which occurs when the SSH key presented by the control node is not authorized for the remote user's account. This is the most likely cause because Ansible relies on SSH key-based authentication by default, and a missing or mismatched public key on the remote host will prevent the connection.
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.
✗
The playbook syntax is incorrect
Why it's wrong here
Syntax errors are caught before task execution.
✗
The SSH port is blocked
Why it's wrong here
Would produce 'Connection refused' or timeout.
✗
The remote host is unreachable
Why it's wrong here
Would give 'Connection timed out'.
✓
The SSH key is not authorized for the remote user
Why this is correct
Permission denied (publickey) indicates key not accepted.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse SSH authentication failures with network connectivity issues, but the specific 'Permission denied (publickey)' error clearly points to key authorization, not reachability or port blocking.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Ansible uses the SSH protocol (typically OpenSSH) to connect to managed nodes. The authentication process involves the control node presenting its private key, and the remote host checking the corresponding public key against the user's ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file. If the public key is absent, the SSH daemon returns a 'Permission denied (publickey)' error, which Ansible reports as an authentication failure. This can also occur if the private key is encrypted and the ssh-agent is not running or the passphrase is not provided.
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: The SSH key is not authorized for the remote user — The error message indicates an SSH authentication failure, which occurs when the SSH key presented by the control node is not authorized for the remote user's account. This is the most likely cause because Ansible relies on SSH key-based authentication by default, and a missing or mismatched public key on the remote host will prevent the connection.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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