Question 90 of 997

System Hardening →mediumMatchingObjective-mapped

Understand etcd Security: TLS, Certificate Auth, RBAC

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.

Match each etcd security configuration to its description.

A
Client-to-server TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd members.
Why wrong: Incorrect — this describes peer-to-peer TLS, not client-to-server TLS.
B
Peer-to-peer TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd clients and the cluster.
Why wrong: Incorrect — this describes client-to-server TLS.
C
Client certificate authentication: Requires clients to present a valid certificate signed by a trusted CA.
Correct — client certificate authentication ensures only authenticated clients can access etcd.
D
RBAC: Controls who can access which etcd resources based on roles.
Correct — RBAC allows fine-grained access control.
E
Client-to-server TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd clients and the etcd cluster.
Correct — client-to-server TLS ensures encrypted client-server communication.
F
Peer-to-peer TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd members.
Correct — peer-to-peer TLS ensures encrypted communication between etcd peers.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 certificate authentication: Requires clients to present a valid certificate signed by a trusted CA.

In this matching exercise, each etcd security configuration should be paired with its correct description. Common confusions arise between client-to-server TLS and peer-to-peer TLS due to similar wording. Client-to-server TLS secures communication between clients and the cluster, while peer-to-peer TLS secures inter-member communication. Client certificate authentication and RBAC are distinct security features.

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.

✗
Client-to-server TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd members.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — this describes peer-to-peer TLS, not client-to-server TLS.
✗
Peer-to-peer TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd clients and the cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — this describes client-to-server TLS.
✓
Client certificate authentication: Requires clients to present a valid certificate signed by a trusted CA.
Why this is correct
Correct — client certificate authentication ensures only authenticated clients can access etcd.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
RBAC: Controls who can access which etcd resources based on roles.
Why this is correct
Correct — RBAC allows fine-grained access control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Client-to-server TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd clients and the etcd cluster.
Why this is correct
Correct — client-to-server TLS ensures encrypted client-server communication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Peer-to-peer TLS: Encrypts communication between etcd members.
Why this is correct
Correct — peer-to-peer TLS ensures encrypted communication between etcd peers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 practitioner preparing for the CKS exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

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

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which CKS exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this CKS question test?

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: Client certificate authentication: Requires clients to present a valid certificate signed by a trusted CA. — In this matching exercise, each etcd security configuration should be paired with its correct description. Common confusions arise between client-to-server TLS and peer-to-peer TLS due to similar wording. Client-to-server TLS secures communication between clients and the cluster, while peer-to-peer TLS secures inter-member communication. Client certificate authentication and RBAC are distinct security features.

What should I do if I get this CKS question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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