This CKS practice question tests your understanding of system 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 enforce that no container in a specific namespace runs with the privileged security context. They decide to use Pod Security Standards. Which Pod Security Standard level should be applied to the namespace?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
restricted
The restricted Pod Security Standard (PSS) level is the correct choice because it enforces the most stringent set of security controls, including the prohibition of privileged containers. This level denies any pod that requests `privileged: true` or uses other privileged capabilities, ensuring that no container in the namespace can run with elevated host access. The baseline level is less restrictive and allows some privileged configurations, while the privileged level imposes no restrictions at all.
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.
✗
baseline
Why it's wrong here
Baseline prevents known privilege escalations but still allows some privileged containers.
✗
custom
Why it's wrong here
Pod Security Standards do not have a 'custom' level; custom policies require a different mechanism like OPA/Gatekeeper.
✓
restricted
Why this is correct
Restricted is the most restrictive level and prohibits privileged containers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
privileged
Why it's wrong here
The privileged level is intentionally permissive and allows all known privilege escalations.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the 'baseline' level as being sufficient to block privileged containers, but baseline only prevents known privilege escalations and does not explicitly deny the `privileged: true` setting, which is only enforced by the restricted level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pod Security Standards are implemented via admission controllers (e.g., the built-in PodSecurity admission plugin in Kubernetes 1.23+). The restricted level enforces a comprehensive set of controls defined in the Kubernetes documentation, including `securityContext.privileged: false`, `allowPrivilegeEscalation: false`, and dropping all capabilities. In a real-world scenario, applying the restricted level to a namespace would reject pods that attempt to run with `privileged: true` at admission time, preventing runtime privilege escalation attacks.
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.
System Hardening — This question tests System Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: restricted — The restricted Pod Security Standard (PSS) level is the correct choice because it enforces the most stringent set of security controls, including the prohibition of privileged containers. This level denies any pod that requests `privileged: true` or uses other privileged capabilities, ensuring that no container in the namespace can run with elevated host access. The baseline level is less restrictive and allows some privileged configurations, while the privileged level imposes no restrictions at all.
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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