This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 security policy requires that all ServiceAccounts in a namespace do not automatically mount their tokens. How can this be achieved at the namespace level?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in the ServiceAccount definition
Setting `automountServiceAccountToken: false` in the ServiceAccount definition applies the setting to all pods that use that ServiceAccount, effectively enforcing the policy at the namespace level when the default or all ServiceAccounts are configured this way. This is the correct approach because the ServiceAccount's `automountServiceAccountToken` field controls token mounting for pods referencing it, overriding any pod-level setting unless explicitly set in the pod spec.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in each pod spec
Why it's wrong here
This works per pod, not namespace level.
✗
Use a PodSecurityPolicy to deny token mounting
Why it's wrong here
PSP is deprecated and not the recommended approach.
✓
Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in the ServiceAccount definition
Why this is correct
This applies to all pods using that ServiceAccount.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Delete the default ServiceAccount
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the default ServiceAccount may break pods; better to modify it.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between namespace-level and pod-level controls, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think PodSecurityPolicy can control token mounting or that deleting the default ServiceAccount is a viable solution, when in fact the ServiceAccount's `automountServiceAccountToken` field is the intended namespace-wide mechanism.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the `automountServiceAccountToken` field in a ServiceAccount is a boolean that, when set to `false`, causes the kubelet to skip mounting the projected service account token volume into pods that reference that ServiceAccount, unless the pod spec explicitly sets `automountServiceAccountToken: true`. This is implemented via the `ServiceAccount` object's `automountServiceAccountToken` field (API version `v1`), and the kubelet checks this field during pod creation. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for security-hardened namespaces where workloads like sidecar proxies or batch jobs do not need Kubernetes API access, reducing the attack surface from token theft.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 CKS question in full detail.
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set automountServiceAccountToken: false in the ServiceAccount definition — Setting `automountServiceAccountToken: false` in the ServiceAccount definition applies the setting to all pods that use that ServiceAccount, effectively enforcing the policy at the namespace level when the default or all ServiceAccounts are configured this way. This is the correct approach because the ServiceAccount's `automountServiceAccountToken` field controls token mounting for pods referencing it, overriding any pod-level setting unless explicitly set in the pod spec.
What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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