SNOW-CAD Platform Features and Integration Practice Question
A ServiceNow instance needs to expose a REST API endpoint for external applications to query incident data. The developer creates a Scripted REST API and needs to ensure that only authorized applications can access it. Which THREE methods can be used to secure the Scripted REST API?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse SAML 2.0 assertions (used for SSO) with API authentication mechanisms, or assume IP-based restrictions are a valid API security method in ServiceNow, when in fact only Basic Auth, OAuth 2.0, and API keys are supported for Scripted REST APIs.
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
✓
Require the request to include a valid ServiceNow username and password (Basic Authentication)
ServiceNow supports HTTP Basic Authentication, which requires the request to include a valid ServiceNow username and password in the Authorization header. This is a standard method for securing Scripted REST APIs, as the platform validates credentials against its user table before processing the request.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Require the request to include a valid ServiceNow username and password (Basic Authentication)
Why this is correct
Basic Auth is a built-in option for REST API security.
- ✗
Require a valid SAML 2.0 assertion in the request body
Why it's wrong here
SAML assertions are for browser-based single sign-on, not REST API authentication.
- ✓
Require a valid OAuth 2.0 access token in the Authorization header
Why this is correct
OAuth 2.0 is supported for token-based authentication.
- ✓
Require a specific API key in the request header that is validated against an API Keys application
Why this is correct
API key authentication is provided via the 'API Keys' plugin.
- ✗
Require that the request originates from an IP address within a specified LDAP directory
Why it's wrong here
LDAP is for user authentication, not IP restriction.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SNOW-CAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free ServiceNow 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 SNOW-CAD exam.