Question 880 of 997
Incident Response for Compromised Containers: Containment, Logs, and Forensics
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging and runtime security. 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid steps to respond to a runtime security incident where a container is suspected to be compromised? (Select two.)
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
✓
Apply a NetworkPolicy that denies all ingress and egress to the pod
Option A is correct because applying a NetworkPolicy that denies all ingress and egress to the compromised pod immediately isolates it, preventing lateral movement and data exfiltration while preserving the pod for forensic analysis. This aligns with the incident response principle of containment before eradication, and Kubernetes NetworkPolicy uses label selectors and pod selectors to enforce eBPF/iptables-based rules at the CNI layer.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The exam often tests the misconception that immediate deletion or node-level actions (like tainting or restarting kubelet) are appropriate first-response steps, when in fact the priority is containment and evidence preservation using network isolation and logging.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NetworkPolicy in Kubernetes is implemented by the CNI plugin (e.g., Calico, Cilium) using iptables, eBPF, or other data-plane mechanisms to filter traffic at the pod network interface. A deny-all policy (spec.podSelector: {}, policyTypes: [Ingress, Egress]) creates a default-deny stance that overrides any allow rules, effectively quarantining the pod. In a real-world scenario, after capturing logs and memory dumps, you would then use `kubectl exec` or ephemeral containers to perform live forensics before terminating the pod.
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 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.
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.
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Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — This question tests Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply a NetworkPolicy that denies all ingress and egress to the pod — Option A is correct because applying a NetworkPolicy that denies all ingress and egress to the compromised pod immediately isolates it, preventing lateral movement and data exfiltration while preserving the pod for forensic analysis. This aligns with the incident response principle of containment before eradication, and Kubernetes NetworkPolicy uses label selectors and pod selectors to enforce eBPF/iptables-based rules at the CNI layer.
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
1 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 THREE of the following are recommended incident response steps when a container is compromised?
hard- A.Ignore the incident and monitor for further activity
- ✓ B.Copy the container's filesystem using kubectl cp for offline analysis
- ✓ C.Capture the container logs using kubectl logs
- ✓ D.Apply a NetworkPolicy to isolate the pod
- E.Immediately terminate the pod to contain the threat
Why B: Isolating the pod via NetworkPolicy, preserving evidence by copying the filesystem, and capturing logs are key steps. Terminating the pod immediately may lose evidence, and ignoring is not recommended.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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