350-201 Question 262
Single answerA security analyst is working with a REST API to automate the retrieval of threat intelligence data. During testing, they receive an HTTP response code of '401'. What does this response code indicate, and how should the analyst proceed?
- A
The resource was not found; the endpoint URL might be incorrect.
- B
The request is unauthorized; the analyst should verify the authentication credentials.
- C
The server encountered an error and could not process the request.
- D
The request was successful, and the data has been retrieved.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
HTTP response codes provide status information for REST API requests. A '401 Unauthorized' response indicates that the client failed to authenticate with the server, often due to missing or invalid credentials. To resolve this, the analyst should ensure that the correct credentials (e.g., API keys or tokens) are included in the request. This is critical for securing automated processes in cybersecurity operations.
- A. Incorrect.
An HTTP 404 error indicates that the resource was not found, which is unrelated to authentication issues.
- B. Correct.
An HTTP 401 error means the request is unauthorized, typically due to missing or incorrect authentication credentials. The analyst should verify the credentials being used.
- C. Incorrect.
An HTTP 500 error indicates a server-side issue, not an authentication or authorization problem.
- D. Incorrect.
An HTTP 200 response indicates that the request was successful, which is not the case here as the response code is 401.