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.
An administrator creates an EncryptionConfiguration with aescbc and saves it to /etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml. Which flag must be added to the kube-apiserver to enable encryption at rest?
--encryption-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml
Why wrong: The correct flag is --encryption-provider-config.
--enable-encryption
Why wrong: This is not a valid flag.
--encryption-provider=aescbc
Why wrong: The provider is specified in the config file, not as a direct flag.
--encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml
This flag specifies the path to the encryption configuration file.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml
Option D is correct because the kube-apiserver requires the `--encryption-provider-config` flag to specify the path to the EncryptionConfiguration YAML file that defines the encryption provider (e.g., aescbc) and resources to encrypt. This flag enables encryption at rest for Kubernetes secrets and other API data stored in etcd.
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.
--encryption-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml
Why it's wrong here
The correct flag is --encryption-provider-config.
--enable-encryption
Why it's wrong here
This is not a valid flag.
--encryption-provider=aescbc
Why it's wrong here
The provider is specified in the config file, not as a direct flag.
--encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml
Why this is correct
This flag specifies the path to the encryption configuration file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the valid `--encryption-provider-config` flag with similar-sounding but invalid flags like `--encryption-config` or `--encryption-provider`, or assume a simple `--enable-encryption` toggle exists, when in reality encryption at rest requires a detailed configuration file.
Detailed technical explanation
The `--encryption-provider-config` flag points to a YAML file that defines an ordered list of encryption providers (e.g., aescbc, secretbox, identity) and the resources (e.g., secrets) to encrypt. Under the hood, the kube-apiserver uses this configuration to wrap the etcd storage layer, transparently encrypting data on write and decrypting on read. A subtle behavior is that the first provider in the list is used for encryption, while all providers are tried for decryption, enabling key rotation without downtime.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: --encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/enc/enc.yaml — Option D is correct because the kube-apiserver requires the `--encryption-provider-config` flag to specify the path to the EncryptionConfiguration YAML file that defines the encryption provider (e.g., aescbc) and resources to encrypt. This flag enables encryption at rest for Kubernetes secrets and other API data stored in etcd.
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 24, 2026
This CKS 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 CKS exam.
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