This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and 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.
What is the default authorization mode for a new Kubernetes cluster?
ABAC
Why wrong: ABAC is not the default.
Node
Why wrong: Node authorization is not a standalone mode; it is used in conjunction.
AlwaysDeny
Why wrong: Not the default.
RBAC
RBAC is the default in most modern distributions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
RBAC
Option D is correct because RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) is the default authorization mode for new Kubernetes clusters since version 1.8. When you initialize a cluster with kubeadm, the API server is automatically configured with the `--authorization-mode=RBAC` flag, enabling fine-grained access control based on roles and bindings.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
ABAC
Why it's wrong here
ABAC is not the default.
Node
Why it's wrong here
Node authorization is not a standalone mode; it is used in conjunction.
AlwaysDeny
Why it's wrong here
Not the default.
RBAC
Why this is correct
RBAC is the default in most modern distributions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that ABAC is the default because it was the original authorization mode in early Kubernetes versions, but RBAC has been the default since v1.8 and is the recommended standard for security.
Detailed technical explanation
RBAC works by defining roles (sets of permissions) and binding them to users, groups, or service accounts via RoleBinding or ClusterRoleBinding. Under the hood, the API server evaluates authorization by checking if the requester has a role binding that grants the requested verb on the resource, and it supports aggregation of ClusterRoles for modular permission management. In real-world scenarios, misconfigured RBAC can lead to privilege escalation, making it critical to follow the principle of least privilege.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: RBAC — Option D is correct because RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) is the default authorization mode for new Kubernetes clusters since version 1.8. When you initialize a cluster with kubeadm, the API server is automatically configured with the `--authorization-mode=RBAC` flag, enabling fine-grained access control based on roles and bindings.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 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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