- A
Enforce that containers set runAsNonRoot: true.
This is a common security best practice.
- B
Enforce that containers do not mount hostPath volumes with read-write access.
Restricting hostPath mounts reduces risk.
- C
Allow privileged containers for system-critical workloads.
Why wrong: Privileged containers should be avoided; they are not a best practice.
- D
Allow containers to use hostNetwork for easier service discovery.
Why wrong: Host network should be restricted; it breaks network isolation.
- E
Enforce that containers set seccompProfile.type to RuntimeDefault or Localhost.
This ensures seccomp is enabled.
Question 150 of 997
OPA Gatekeeper Best Practices
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of minimize microservice vulnerabilities. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 THREE of the following are best practices for securing a Kubernetes cluster using OPA Gatekeeper? (Choose three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Enforce that containers set runAsNonRoot: true.
Option A is correct because enforcing `runAsNonRoot: true` via OPA Gatekeeper ensures that containers run with a non-root user ID, mitigating the risk of privilege escalation attacks. This aligns with the Kubernetes Pod Security Standards (PSS) 'restricted' profile and is a key control for minimizing microservice vulnerabilities.
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.
- ✓
Enforce that containers set runAsNonRoot: true.
Why this is correct
This is a common security best practice.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enforce that containers do not mount hostPath volumes with read-write access.
Why this is correct
Restricting hostPath mounts reduces risk.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Allow privileged containers for system-critical workloads.
Why it's wrong here
Privileged containers should be avoided; they are not a best practice.
- ✗
Allow containers to use hostNetwork for easier service discovery.
Why it's wrong here
Host network should be restricted; it breaks network isolation.
- ✓
Enforce that containers set seccompProfile.type to RuntimeDefault or Localhost.
Why this is correct
This ensures seccomp is enabled.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The CKS exam often tests the misconception that privileged containers are acceptable for 'critical' workloads, but the CKS exam expects a zero-trust approach where no containers run privileged, and hostNetwork is restricted to only explicitly authorized system pods.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
OPA Gatekeeper uses Constraint Templates and Constraints to enforce policies via Kubernetes admission webhooks. For `runAsNonRoot`, the underlying check validates the PodSecurityContext or container-level SecurityContext; if unset, the pod is rejected. In real-world scenarios, a common subtlety is that containers built from base images like `scratch` may lack a user database, causing `runAsNonRoot: true` to fail unless the container explicitly sets a non-root user via `USER` directive in the Dockerfile.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities — This question tests Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enforce that containers set runAsNonRoot: true. — Option A is correct because enforcing `runAsNonRoot: true` via OPA Gatekeeper ensures that containers run with a non-root user ID, mitigating the risk of privilege escalation attacks. This aligns with the Kubernetes Pod Security Standards (PSS) 'restricted' profile and is a key control for minimizing microservice vulnerabilities.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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