easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
CKS Practice Question: An auditor requires that all audit logs from the…
An auditor requires that all audit logs from the Kubernetes API server be stored for 90 days and be tamper-proof. Which TWO measures should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the distinction between log rotation/retention settings (like --audit-log-maxage) and true immutability features, leading candidates to incorrectly select options that only manage log file age without preventing tampering.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the audit log backend to write to an immutable object store like S3 with Object Lock
Storing audit logs in an immutable object store like S3 with Object Lock ensures tamper-proof retention by preventing any object from being overwritten or deleted for a specified retention period. This directly satisfies the auditor's requirement for logs that cannot be altered or destroyed, regardless of the Kubernetes cluster state.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure the audit log backend to write to an immutable object store like S3 with Object Lock
Why this is correct
Immutable storage prevents log modification or deletion.
- ✗
Enable the AuditDynamicConfiguration feature gate
Why it's wrong here
This allows dynamic reconfiguration but does not address retention or tamper-proofing.
- ✗
Deploy Fluentd to forward logs to a central Elasticsearch cluster
Why it's wrong here
Forwarding does not guarantee immutability.
- ✓
Set the API server flag --audit-log-maxage=90
Why this is correct
This sets the retention period for audit log files.
- ✗
Set --audit-log-maxbackup=10 and --audit-log-maxsize=100
Why it's wrong here
These flags control rotation, not retention duration or tamper-proofing.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.