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 RBAC authorization and disable anonymous authentication on the API server. Which set of flags should be added to the kube-apiserver configuration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
--authorization-mode=RBAC --anonymous-auth=false
Option C is correct because to enable RBAC authorization on the API server, you must set `--authorization-mode=RBAC`. Disabling anonymous authentication is achieved with `--anonymous-auth=false`, which prevents unauthenticated requests from being processed. Together, these flags enforce role-based access control and block anonymous access, meeting the administrator's requirements.
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.
AlwaysAllow disables RBAC authorization, making the cluster insecure.
✓
--authorization-mode=RBAC --anonymous-auth=false
Why this is correct
These flags enable RBAC authorization and disable anonymous access, following CIS recommendations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
--authorization-mode=Node --anonymous-auth=true
Why it's wrong here
Node authorization mode is for kubelets only and anonymous auth is enabled, which is insecure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing admission controllers (like NodeRestriction) with authorization modes, or thinking that `--authorization-mode=Node` alone provides full RBAC, when it only handles node-specific authorization and must be combined with RBAC in a chain (e.g., `--authorization-mode=Node,RBAC`).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RBAC in Kubernetes uses the `rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1` API group, where roles and cluster roles define permissions bound to users or service accounts via role bindings. When `--authorization-mode=RBAC` is set, the API server evaluates each request against RBAC rules; if no rule matches, the request is denied. Disabling anonymous auth (`--anonymous-auth=false`) removes the `system:anonymous` user and the `system:unauthenticated` group, ensuring that only authenticated requests are evaluated by the authorization chain.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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: --authorization-mode=RBAC --anonymous-auth=false — Option C is correct because to enable RBAC authorization on the API server, you must set `--authorization-mode=RBAC`. Disabling anonymous authentication is achieved with `--anonymous-auth=false`, which prevents unauthenticated requests from being processed. Together, these flags enforce role-based access control and block anonymous access, meeting the administrator's requirements.
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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