- A
secure
Why wrong: Not a valid level.
- B
default
Why wrong: Not a valid level.
- C
privileged
Valid level.
- D
baseline
Valid level.
- E
strict
Why wrong: Not a valid level.
Question 668 of 997
Pod Security Standard Levels (Privileged, Baseline, Restricted)
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of system hardening. 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 TWO of the following are valid Pod Security Standards levels?
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
✓
privileged
The Pod Security Standards (PSS) define three levels: privileged, baseline, and restricted. 'Privileged' is the most permissive level, allowing all known privilege escalations and is intended for system-level workloads that require unrestricted access to host resources.
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.
- ✗
secure
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid level.
- ✗
default
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid level.
- ✓
privileged
Why this is correct
Valid level.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
baseline
Why this is correct
Valid level.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
strict
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid level.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The CKS exam often tests the exact naming of the three Pod Security Standards levels, and candidates mistakenly invent plausible-sounding names like 'secure', 'default', or 'strict' instead of the official terms 'privileged', 'baseline', and 'restricted'.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Pod Security Standards are implemented via the PodSecurity admission controller (enabled by default in Kubernetes v1.23+). The 'baseline' level applies a minimal set of restrictions to prevent known privilege escalations while allowing most workloads, and the 'restricted' level enforces the most stringent Pod hardening requirements, such as forbidding privileged containers and requiring seccomp profiles. In practice, you can apply these levels using namespace labels like 'pod-security.kubernetes.io/enforce=baseline'.
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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System Hardening — study guide chapter
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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: privileged — The Pod Security Standards (PSS) define three levels: privileged, baseline, and restricted. 'Privileged' is the most permissive level, allowing all known privilege escalations and is intended for system-level workloads that require unrestricted access to host resources.
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 TWO of the following are valid Pod Security Standard levels? (Select 2)
medium- A.medium
- B.high
- C.default
- ✓ D.privileged
- ✓ E.restricted
Why D: Option D is correct because the Pod Security Standards (PSS) define three levels: privileged, baseline, and restricted. The privileged level is the most permissive, allowing known privilege escalations and is intended for system-level workloads that require unrestricted access to host resources. It is explicitly listed in the Kubernetes documentation as one of the three valid PSS levels.
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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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