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 wants to enable audit logging for the Kubernetes API server. Which of the following is required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set --audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file flags on the kube-apiserver
Audit logging in Kubernetes is configured directly on the kube-apiserver component. The `--audit-log-path` flag specifies the file path where audit logs are written, and the `--audit-policy-file` flag points to a YAML file that defines which events (e.g., requests, responses, metadata) should be logged and at what level (e.g., Metadata, Request, RequestResponse). These flags are required to enable and control audit logging; no feature gate is needed because audit logging is built-in since Kubernetes 1.8.
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.
✗
Enable the AuditLogging feature gate
Why it's wrong here
Audit logging is not a feature gate; it's configured via flags on the API server.
✓
Set --audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file flags on the kube-apiserver
Why this is correct
Enabling audit logging requires specifying the log path via --audit-log-path and a policy file via --audit-policy-file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a ClusterRoleBinding with audit permissions
Why it's wrong here
RBAC is not directly related to enabling audit logging; it's about authorization.
✗
Set --audit-log-path flag on the kubelet
Why it's wrong here
Audit logging is a feature of the API server, not the kubelet.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think audit logging requires a feature gate (Option A) or confuse the kube-apiserver's audit flags with kubelet flags (Option D), or mistakenly believe RBAC permissions are needed to enable audit logging (Option C).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Audit logs are generated by the kube-apiserver as it processes requests, and the audit policy file allows fine-grained control over what is logged (e.g., only requests to certain resources or from certain users). The logs are written in JSON lines format, and the `--audit-log-maxbackup` and `--audit-log-maxsize` flags can be used to manage log rotation. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured audit policy (e.g., setting the level to `None` for all stages) can silently disable logging, so the policy must explicitly define rules for the stages (RequestReceived, ResponseStarted, ResponseComplete, Panic) you want to capture.
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 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.
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 --audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file flags on the kube-apiserver — Audit logging in Kubernetes is configured directly on the kube-apiserver component. The `--audit-log-path` flag specifies the file path where audit logs are written, and the `--audit-policy-file` flag points to a YAML file that defines which events (e.g., requests, responses, metadata) should be logged and at what level (e.g., Metadata, Request, RequestResponse). These flags are required to enable and control audit logging; no feature gate is needed because audit logging is built-in since Kubernetes 1.8.
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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