- A
--audit-log-path and --audit-log-maxage
Why wrong: --audit-log-maxage is optional and not required to enable logging.
- B
--audit-policy-file and --audit-log-maxbackup
Why wrong: --audit-log-maxbackup is optional.
- C
--audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file
Correct. Both are required.
- D
--audit-log-path and --authorization-mode=RBAC
Why wrong: --authorization-mode=RBAC is for RBAC, not audit logging.
Question 163 of 997
How to Enable Audit Logging for the Kubernetes API Server
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
You need to enable audit logging for the Kubernetes API server. Which two flags must be set?
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
✓
--audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file
Option C is correct because to enable audit logging in the Kubernetes API server, you must specify both an audit policy file (using --audit-policy-file) to define which events should be logged and at what level, and a log file path (using --audit-log-path) to specify where the audit logs should be written. Without the policy file, the API server does not know which requests to audit; without the log path, the audit events have no output destination.
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.
- ✗
--audit-log-path and --audit-log-maxage
Why it's wrong here
--audit-log-maxage is optional and not required to enable logging.
- ✗
--audit-policy-file and --audit-log-maxbackup
Why it's wrong here
--audit-log-maxbackup is optional.
- ✓
--audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file
Why this is correct
Correct. Both are required.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
--audit-log-path and --authorization-mode=RBAC
Why it's wrong here
--authorization-mode=RBAC is for RBAC, not audit logging.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between mandatory flags (--audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file) and optional retention flags (--audit-log-maxage, --audit-log-maxbackup, --audit-log-maxsize), leading candidates to select options that include only retention flags or mix authorization flags with audit flags.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The audit policy file is a YAML or JSON document that defines rules using 'level' fields (e.g., None, Metadata, Request, RequestResponse) and 'resources' or 'verbs' to filter which API calls are logged. Under the hood, the API server processes these rules in order and stops at the first matching rule, so the order of rules in the policy file matters. In a real-world scenario, a misconfigured policy (e.g., a catch-all rule at the top) can either flood the logs or miss critical security events, making careful rule ordering essential.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Cluster Setup and Hardening — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
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: --audit-log-path and --audit-policy-file — Option C is correct because to enable audit logging in the Kubernetes API server, you must specify both an audit policy file (using --audit-policy-file) to define which events should be logged and at what level, and a log file path (using --audit-log-path) to specify where the audit logs should be written. Without the policy file, the API server does not know which requests to audit; without the log path, the audit events have no output destination.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
5 more ways this is tested on CKS
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which of the following is the correct flag to enable audit logging on the kube-apiserver?
easy- A.--audit-file
- ✓ B.--audit-log-path
- C.--audit-policy-file
- D.--audit-log-file
Why B: Option B is correct because `--audit-log-path` is the flag used to specify the file path where the kube-apiserver writes audit log entries. This flag is defined in the Kubernetes API server component and is required to enable audit logging; without it, no audit logs are written.
Variation 2. Which flag must be set on the API server to enable audit logging?
medium- A.--audit-log-maxage=30
- B.--audit-log-format=json
- ✓ C.--audit-log-path=/var/log/audit.log
- D.--audit-policy-file=/etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml
Why C: Option C is correct because the `--audit-log-path` flag is the mandatory parameter that enables audit logging in the kube-apiserver. Without specifying a file path for the audit log, the API server will not write any audit events, even if other audit-related flags are set. This flag tells the API server where to persist the audit log entries, effectively activating the audit logging feature.
Variation 3. You need to enable audit logging for the Kubernetes API server. Which three flags must be set?
medium- ✓ A.--audit-log-path, --audit-policy-file, --audit-log-maxage
- B.--audit-log-path, --audit-log-format, --audit-log-maxsize
- C.--audit-log-path, --audit-log-maxage, --audit-log-maxsize
- D.--audit-policy-file, --audit-log-maxage, --audit-log-maxbackup
Why A: To enable audit logging, the two mandatory flags are --audit-log-path (to specify the log file) and --audit-policy-file (to define the audit policy). The flag --audit-log-maxage is optional but commonly used for log rotation. Among the options, only option A includes both mandatory flags; the other options miss either --audit-log-path or --audit-policy-file. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.
Variation 4. You are tasked with enabling audit logging for the Kubernetes API server. You have created an audit policy file at /etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml. Which flag must be added to the API server manifest to enable audit logging?
medium- A.--audit-policy-file=/etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml
- B.--audit-log-level=2
- C.--enable-audit-log
- ✓ D.--audit-log-path=/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log
Why D: Option D is correct because the `--audit-log-path` flag is required to enable audit logging in the Kubernetes API server. Without specifying a log path, the API server will not write audit events to a file, even if an audit policy is defined. The `--audit-policy-file` flag (Option A) defines the rules for what to audit, but audit logging itself is only activated when a log destination is provided via `--audit-log-path`.
Variation 5. You are tasked with enabling audit logging for the Kubernetes API server. Which API server flag must be used to specify the audit log file path?
medium- ✓ A.--audit-log-path
- B.--audit-log-dir
- C.--audit-policy-file
- D.--audit-log-file
Why A: The `--audit-log-path` flag is the correct API server flag to specify the file path where audit logs are written. This flag defines the absolute or relative path to the audit log file, and the kube-apiserver will create or append to that file. Without this flag, no audit log file is generated, even if an audit policy is configured.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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