This CKA practice question tests your understanding of services and networking. 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.
A NetworkPolicy named 'deny-all' has only a podSelector matching all pods and no rules. What is the effect?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Denies all ingress traffic to all pods in the namespace
A NetworkPolicy with an empty podSelector (matchLabels: {}) selects all pods in the namespace. With no ingress rules, it defaults to denying all ingress traffic to those pods. Similarly, if no egress rules, it denies all egress traffic.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Has no effect because NetworkPolicy requires at least one rule
Why it's wrong here
A NetworkPolicy is valid without explicit rules; it denies traffic by default.
✗
Allows all traffic because there are no explicit deny rules
Why it's wrong here
NetworkPolicies are whitelist; if no rules, traffic is denied.
✓
Denies all ingress traffic to all pods in the namespace
Why this is correct
An empty rules section means no traffic is allowed, effectively denying all ingress.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Denies all egress traffic from all pods in the namespace
Why it's wrong here
It also denies egress because no egress rules are defined.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKA question in full detail.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CKA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Services and Networking — This question tests Services and Networking — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Denies all ingress traffic to all pods in the namespace — A NetworkPolicy with an empty podSelector (matchLabels: {}) selects all pods in the namespace. With no ingress rules, it defaults to denying all ingress traffic to those pods. Similarly, if no egress rules, it denies all egress traffic.
What should I do if I get this CKA question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related CKA ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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