This CKAD practice question tests your understanding of application environment, configuration and security. 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 developer wants to restrict network traffic so that only pods with label 'app: frontend' can communicate with pods labeled 'app: backend' on port 8080. Which Kubernetes resource should be used?
NetworkPolicy
NetworkPolicy defines ingress/egress rules based on pod labels.
ResourceQuota
Why wrong: ResourceQuota limits resource consumption, not network traffic.
PodSecurityPolicy
Why wrong: PodSecurityPolicy is for security context constraints, not network traffic.
RoleBinding
Why wrong: RoleBinding is for RBAC access to API resources.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
NetworkPolicy
A NetworkPolicy is the correct Kubernetes resource because it defines ingress and egress rules to control pod-to-pod communication based on labels, namespaces, and ports. By specifying a podSelector matching 'app: backend', an ingress rule allowing traffic from pods with label 'app: frontend' on port 8080, and a policyTypes field including 'Ingress', this resource enforces the desired restriction at the network layer using iptables or eBPF under the hood.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
NetworkPolicy
Why this is correct
NetworkPolicy defines ingress/egress rules based on pod labels.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ResourceQuota
Why it's wrong here
ResourceQuota limits resource consumption, not network traffic.
PodSecurityPolicy
Why it's wrong here
PodSecurityPolicy is for security context constraints, not network traffic.
RoleBinding
Why it's wrong here
RoleBinding is for RBAC access to API resources.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse NetworkPolicy with RBAC or security context controls, mistakenly thinking RoleBinding or PodSecurityPolicy can restrict network traffic, when in fact only NetworkPolicy (with a compatible CNI) provides pod-level network access control.
Detailed technical explanation
NetworkPolicy operates at layer 3/4 of the OSI model, using IP addresses and ports, and is enforced by a CNI plugin (e.g., Calico, Cilium, Weave Net) that programs iptables or eBPF rules on each node. A subtle behavior is that NetworkPolicy is additive: if no policy selects a pod, all traffic is allowed; but once any policy selects a pod, all traffic not explicitly allowed is denied. In a real-world scenario, a developer might forget to set the policyTypes field, causing the policy to default to only 'Ingress' and leaving egress unrestricted, which could be a security gap.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKAD 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
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FAQ
Application Environment, Configuration and Security — This question tests Application Environment, Configuration and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: NetworkPolicy — A NetworkPolicy is the correct Kubernetes resource because it defines ingress and egress rules to control pod-to-pod communication based on labels, namespaces, and ports. By specifying a podSelector matching 'app: backend', an ingress rule allowing traffic from pods with label 'app: frontend' on port 8080, and a policyTypes field including 'Ingress', this resource enforces the desired restriction at the network layer using iptables or eBPF under the hood.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CKAD practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF 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 CKAD exam.
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