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CCNA Compliance And Security Frameworks Questions

29 questions · Compliance And Security Frameworks · All types, answers revealed

1
MCQeasy

A compliance officer wants to continuously audit Kubernetes resource manifests for misconfigurations against security best practices before they are applied. Which tool type is best suited for this shift-left compliance approach?

A.Log shippers
B.Packet analyzers
C.Static code analysis and admission controllers
D.Kernel debuggers
AnswerC

Admission controllers enforce policy compliance at deployment time.

Why this answer

Policy-as-code engines like OPA Gatekeeper or Kyverno validate and audit Kubernetes manifests prior to admission into the cluster.

2
MCQhard

An auditor is assessing compliance with NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control (AC) within a managed Kubernetes cluster. Which API object enforces fine-grained authorization decisions directly at the Kubernetes API server?

A.ValidatingWebhookConfiguration
B.NetworkPolicy
C.ClusterRoleBinding
D.ResourceQuota
AnswerC

ClusterRoleBindings assign permissions to subjects across the cluster, enforcing RBAC.

Why this answer

Kubernetes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), implemented via ClusterRole and Role bindings, enforces NIST-aligned access control policies at the API server layer.

3
MCQhard

An enterprise undergoes an ISO/IEC 27001 audit for their Kubernetes environment. The auditor requests evidence that secrets at rest are encrypted. Which configuration component enables encryption of Secret resources in etcd?

A.EncryptionConfiguration API
B.Kubelet TLS bootstrapping
C.SecretProviderClass CRD
D.ServiceAccount token volume projection
AnswerA

EncryptionConfiguration defines encryption providers for etcd storage.

Why this answer

The EncryptionConfiguration resource passed to the kube-apiserver via --encryption-provider-config enables encryption of sensitive resources like Secrets at rest in etcd.

4
MCQmedium

According to the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark, anonymous requests to the Kubernetes API server should be disabled. Which kube-apiserver flag enforces this setting?

A.--authorization-mode=Node,RBAC
B.--anonymous-auth=false
C.--enable-admission-plugins
D.--insecure-port=0
AnswerB

Setting anonymous-auth to false rejects unauthenticated requests.

Why this answer

The flag --anonymous-auth=false disables anonymous requests to the secure port of the API server, fulfilling CIS benchmark requirements.

5
MCQeasy

An enterprise is adopting the Cloud Native Security Framework to map their controls. Which of the 4Cs of Cloud Native Security represents the outermost layer encompassing physical data centers and hardware?

A.Clusters
B.Cloud
C.Code
D.Containers
AnswerB

Cloud represents the foundational infrastructure and physical data centers.

Why this answer

The 4Cs of Cloud Native Security are Cloud, Clusters, Containers, and Code. Cloud is the outermost layer representing physical infrastructure and provider security.

6
Multi-Selecteasy

When evaluating a Kubernetes cluster against security and compliance baselines, which TWO tools are commonly used for automated auditing and benchmarking? (Choose TWO)

Select 2 answers
A.Kustomize
B.kube-bench
C.Helm
D.Kubescape
E.Kubectl
AnswersB, D

kube-bench automates checking Kubernetes against CIS Benchmarks.

Why this answer

Kube-bench and Kubescape are both widely recognized tools for auditing Kubernetes compliance against benchmarks.

7
MCQeasy

A security analyst wants to scan container images for known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) as part of a continuous compliance pipeline. Which tool is widely used for this purpose?

A.Envoy
B.CoreDNS
C.Trivy
D.Calico
AnswerC

Trivy scans container images for vulnerabilities.

Why this answer

Trivy is a popular open-source vulnerability scanner for containers, filesystems, and Git repositories.

8
MCQmedium

To comply with CIS benchmarks regarding pod security, an administrator wants to prevent containers from running with root privileges. Which field in a Pod Security Standard (restricted profile) enforces this?

A.runAsNonRoot: true
B.hostNetwork: true
C.readOnlyRootFilesystem: false
D.privileged: true
AnswerA

runAsNonRoot ensures containers cannot execute as the root user.

Why this answer

The restricted Pod Security Standard profile disallows running containers as root by enforcing runAsNonRoot: true in the securityContext.

9
MCQhard

A security engineer is configuring kube-apiserver audit logging to satisfy NIST compliance requirements. Which configuration file specifies which requests are logged and at what log level?

A.kubeadm.conf
B.Kubelet configuration file
C.Admission configuration YAML
D.Audit policy file
AnswerD

The audit policy file dictates log retention levels and included event types.

Why this answer

An audit policy file passed via --audit-policy-file defines rules for what events are recorded and what log level is applied in Kubernetes.

10
Multi-Selecthard

An auditor is inspecting a Kubernetes cluster for compliance with the CIS Benchmark for etcd security. Which THREE configurations must be verified for the etcd cluster? (Choose THREE)

Select 3 answers
A.Peer communication is encrypted using TLS certificates
B.Client certificate authentication is enabled for etcd (--client-cert-auth=true)
C.etcd auto-compaction is permanently disabled
D.etcd is exposed directly on the public internet without authentication
E.etcd data directory permissions are restricted (e.g., 700)
AnswersA, B, E

etcd cluster peer-to-peer traffic must be encrypted with TLS.

Why this answer

CIS benchmarks for etcd focus on client certificates (mTLS), peer communication encryption, and secure file permissions.

11
MCQeasy

Which CNCF project acts as a cloud-native runtime security and intrusion detection tool that monitors system calls against predefined security rules?

A.Trivy
B.Fluentd
C.Falco
D.Cert-manager
AnswerC

Falco monitors kernel system calls in real-time for security violations.

Why this answer

Falco is the CNCF incubating runtime security tool that acts as a security camera for containers, detecting anomalous behavior and policy violations.

12
MCQmedium

An auditor notices that kubelet authentication is set to always allow anonymous access in a cluster configuration. According to the CIS Benchmark, what should the kubelet configuration parameter "authentication.anonymous.enabled" be set to?

A.strict
B.auto
C.true
D.false
AnswerD

Anonymous access must be disabled to secure the kubelet API.

Why this answer

The CIS Benchmark specifies that kubelet anonymous access must be disabled by setting authentication.anonymous.enabled to false.

13
Multi-Selecteasy

Which TWO actions are core tenets of the "Shift-Left" security philosophy in cloud-native compliance? (Choose TWO)

Select 2 answers
A.Disabling all automated security tooling to speed up commits
B.Scanning infrastructure-as-code (IaC) templates for misconfigurations before deployment
C.Waiting until a production breach occurs to audit logs
D.Integrating vulnerability scanning directly into the CI/CD pipeline
E.Relying entirely on manual code reviews post-release
AnswersB, D

Catching misconfigurations in code before applying to production is shifting left.

Why this answer

Shift-left security focuses on integrating security checks early in the development lifecycle, such as in CI/CD and IaC scanning.

14
Multi-Selectmedium

A compliance team is adopting the NIST SP 800-190 standard to secure their container image pipeline. Which THREE practices are recommended in this framework for managing container images? (Choose THREE)

Select 3 answers
A.Employ trusted base images from verified publishers
B.Implement vulnerability scanning in the CI/CD pipeline and registry
C.Store plaintext passwords directly inside Dockerfile ENV directives
D.Rely exclusively on public unverified base images to speed up development
E.Use digitally signed images to verify provenance and integrity
AnswersA, B, E

Using hardened, verified base images reduces the attack surface.

Why this answer

NIST SP 800-190 recommends vulnerability scanning, cryptographic signing/provenance, and using trusted base images.

15
MCQeasy

An administrator needs to evaluate an existing Kubernetes cluster against the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark. Which tool provides automated scanning specifically tailored to this benchmark?

A.kube-hunter
B.falco
C.velero
D.kube-bench
AnswerD

kube-bench runs checks based on the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark.

Why this answer

Kube-bench is an open-source tool that checks whether Kubernetes is deployed securely by running the checks documented in the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark.

16
Multi-Selectmedium

A security architect is designing role-based access control (RBAC) to comply with NIST access control principles of least privilege. Which THREE best practices should be followed when creating Roles and ClusterRoles? (Choose THREE)

Select 3 answers
A.Scrutinize and restrict the use of ClusterRoleBindings to cluster-wide resources
B.Avoid using wildcards (*) in API groups, resources, and verbs where possible
C.Allow all users to read Kubernetes Secrets by default
D.Grant cluster-admin permissions to all application service accounts for ease of deployment
E.Regularly audit RBAC permissions and bindings
AnswersA, B, E

ClusterRoleBindings grant cluster-wide access and should be tightly controlled.

Why this answer

Least privilege requires avoiding wildcards, scoping permissions tightly, and auditing bindings.

17
MCQhard

An auditor is reviewing compliance with CIS Kubernetes Benchmark control 1.2.20, which relates to the kube-apiserver admission control configuration. Which admission plugin is recommended by CIS to prevent default service accounts from automatically mounting API credentials?

A.DefaultTolerationSeconds
B.AlwaysAdmit
C.NodeRestriction
D.ServiceAccount
AnswerD

The ServiceAccount admission controller manages service account creation and token defaults.

Why this answer

The ServiceAccount admission controller, along with disabling automatic token mounting via serviceAccountName/automountServiceAccountToken, is governed by admission plugins. Specifically, NamespaceLifecycle and PodNodeSecurity are relevant, but for service account automation management, the ServiceAccount admission controller governs default behavior.

18
MCQeasy

Which NIST framework publication specifically addresses the security of container-based applications and orchestration systems?

A.NIST SP 800-190
B.NIST SP 800-37
C.NIST SP 800-53
D.NIST SP 800-88
AnswerA

SP 800-190 is dedicated to container and application security guidelines.

Why this answer

NIST SP 800-190 is the Application Container Security Guide, providing specific security guidance for container environments.

19
MCQmedium

Under NIST guidelines for continuous monitoring in cloud-native environments, which Kubernetes mechanism allows operators to enforce cryptographic integrity of container images at runtime?

A.Image signing and verification via admission controllers
B.Increasing pod memory limits
C.Disabling the default namespace
D.Using ClusterRoleBindings with wildcards
AnswerA

Cryptographic signatures verify image provenance prior to runtime admission.

Why this answer

Admission controllers like Gatekeeper or Kyverno working alongside image signature verification tools (like Cosign) enforce cryptographic image signatures before admission.

20
MCQhard

An organization requires compliance auditing of etcd access to ensure unauthorized clients cannot communicate with the data store. According to CIS benchmarks, how should etcd client communication be secured?

A.IPsec tunnel encapsulation
B.Mutual TLS (mTLS) client certificates
C.HTTP with token bearer headers
D.Plaintext loopback interface binding
AnswerB

CIS benchmarks dictate that etcd client-server communication must use client certificates (mTLS).

Why this answer

CIS benchmarks require etcd client communication to be authenticated and encrypted using mutual TLS (mTLS).

21
MCQmedium

A security engineer is reviewing the NIST SP 800-190 container security application and needs to identify the primary control category for securing container image registries. Under NIST guidelines, which layer is primarily responsible for verifying the integrity of images before deployment?

A.Host OS security
B.Registry security
C.Runtime orchestration security
D.Cluster networking
AnswerB

Registry security involves securing image repositories and verifying image integrity/provenance.

Why this answer

NIST SP 800-190 emphasizes that image integrity must be validated at the registry and build pipeline level using cryptographic signing and vulnerability scanning.

22
MCQmedium

A security engineer needs to verify that control plane component pods (such as kube-apiserver and etcd) have correct file ownership on the control plane node. According to CIS benchmarks, who should own these manifest files located in "/etc/kubernetes/manifests"?

A.nobody:nogroup
B.root:root
C.daemon:daemon
D.kube:kube
AnswerB

Manifest files must be owned by root:root to prevent unauthorized modification.

Why this answer

CIS benchmarks state that control plane manifest files must be owned by the root user and root group (root:root).

23
Multi-Selectmedium

A security team is implementing Pod Security Standards (restricted, baseline, privileged) across namespaces. Which THREE controls are enforced under the Restricted Pod Security profile? (Choose THREE)

Select 3 answers
A.Requiring all capabilities to be dropped except NET_BIND_SERVICE or dropping all (capabilities.drop: [ALL])
B.Requiring containers to run as a non-root user (runAsNonRoot: true)
C.Disallowing privilege escalation (allowPrivilegeEscalation: false)
D.Allowing unrestricted use of the host network and host PID namespaces
E.Enabling privileged mode for all standard workloads
AnswersA, B, C

Restricted profile requires dropping dangerous capabilities.

Why this answer

The restricted profile enforces running as non-root, dropping capabilities, and preventing privilege escalation.

24
MCQhard

A security team is implementing NIST SP 800-190 guidelines for container runtime security. Which kernel feature is leveraged by container runtimes to restrict system calls and meet least-privilege execution requirements?

A.Seccomp profiles
B.cgroups v2
C.AppArmor MAC profiles
D.Namespaces
AnswerA

Seccomp restricts the system calls a containerized process can make.

Why this answer

Seccomp (secure computing mode) filters system calls made by containers, aligning with NIST guidelines to restrict container capabilities and reduce attack surface.

25
MCQeasy

Which open-source auditing tool provides compliance scores and checks against Kubernetes security frameworks such as NSA-CISA and CIS?

A.Kube-dns
B.Metric-server
C.Cilium
D.Kubescape
AnswerD

Kubescape is an open-source Kubernetes security platform for risk and compliance analysis.

Why this answer

Datree or Kubescape are prominent tools for compliance scoring. Kubescape specifically evaluates Kubernetes clusters against multiple security frameworks including CIS and NSA-CISA.

26
Multi-Selecthard

An enterprise is enforcing the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark for control plane configuration. Which TWO parameters must be correctly configured on the kube-apiserver to meet strict compliance auditing standards? (Choose TWO)

Select 2 answers
A.--audit-policy-file
B.--service-account-lookup=false
C.--enable-bootstrap-auth-only=true
D.--profiling=true
E.--audit-log-path
AnswersA, E

An audit policy file must be specified to govern what events are recorded.

Why this answer

CIS benchmarks require enabling auditing via audit log path and audit policy file configuration on the kube-apiserver.

27
MCQhard

An auditor reviews container runtime configurations for compliance with NIST SP 800-190 recommendations on privilege escalation. Which Kubernetes feature controls whether a process can gain more privileges than its parent process?

A.allowPrivilegeEscalation: false
B.automountServiceAccountToken: false
C.runAsUser: 1000
D.privileged: false
AnswerA

Setting allowPrivilegeEscalation to false prevents child processes from gaining additional privileges.

Why this answer

allowPrivilegeEscalation controls whether a process can gain more privileges through mechanisms like setuid binaries, fulfilling privilege restriction controls.

28
Multi-Selecthard

An enterprise security auditor is reviewing Kubernetes API server admission control configurations for compliance. Which THREE admission plugins or mechanisms are critical for enforcing security policies at admission time? (Choose THREE)

Select 3 answers
A.ValidatingAdmissionWebhook
B.PodSecurity
C.InsecureServing
D.NodeRestriction
E.AlwaysAllow
AnswersA, B, D

Webhooks allow external engines (like OPA Gatekeeper) to validate incoming requests.

Why this answer

NodeRestriction, ValidatingAdmissionWebhook, and PodSecurity are key admission mechanisms for enforcing security policies.

29
MCQmedium

A security team needs to ensure that Kubernetes nodes have secure file permissions for the kubelet configuration files, in alignment with CIS benchmarks. What should the file permissions on "/etc/kubernetes/kubelet.conf" typically be set to?

A.777
B.755
C.600
D.644
AnswerC

600 restricts read and write access exclusively to the root owner.

Why this answer

CIS benchmarks state that configuration files containing sensitive credentials, such as kubelet.conf, must have permissions set to 600 or stricter and be owned by root:root.

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