Question 881 of 866
hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CKS Practice Question: An etcd cluster uses TLS for peer and client…
An etcd cluster uses TLS for peer and client communication. You need to secure etcd further by enabling RBAC. Which flag do you set on the etcd process to enable authentication?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often assume there is a direct `--enable-rbac` or `--auth-mode` flag for RBAC, but etcd requires `--client-cert-auth=true` first, and then RBAC is enabled via the etcd API or `etcdctl` commands.
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
✓
--client-cert-auth=true
In etcd, RBAC is not enabled by a dedicated RBAC flag; instead, authentication must first be turned on using `--client-cert-auth=true`. This flag requires clients to present a valid TLS certificate, which is the prerequisite for enabling RBAC. After setting this flag, you can use `etcdctl` commands like `etcdctl role add` and `etcdctl user add` to configure RBAC roles and users.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
--client-cert-auth=true
Why this is correct
This enables client certificate authentication, which is required for RBAC.
- ✗
--enable-rbac=true
Why it's wrong here
There is no such flag; RBAC is enabled via client certificate auth and then configured.
- ✗
--authentication-mode=RBAC
Why it's wrong here
This flag does not exist in etcd.
- ✗
--auth-mode=rbac
Why it's wrong here
etcd does not have an --auth-mode flag.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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