- A
Only when a vulnerability is reported
Why wrong: Proactive scanning is essential for security.
- B
After deployment to production
Why wrong: Scanning after deployment is too late; vulnerabilities may already be exploited.
- C
Before code commit
Why wrong: There is no image to scan before the code is built.
- D
After building the image but before pushing to registry
Scanning at this stage prevents vulnerable images from being stored or deployed.
Question 573 of 997
When to Scan Container Images in CI/CD Pipeline
This CKS practice question tests your understanding of supply chain security. 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.
In a CI/CD pipeline, at which stage should container image scanning be performed?
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
✓
After building the image but before pushing to registry
Container image scanning should be performed after building the image but before pushing it to the registry (Option D). This ensures that vulnerabilities are detected before the image is stored and distributed, preventing insecure images from being deployed. Scanning at this stage integrates security into the CI/CD pipeline, allowing teams to fail the build or trigger remediation before the image reaches production.
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.
- ✗
Only when a vulnerability is reported
Why it's wrong here
Proactive scanning is essential for security.
- ✗
After deployment to production
Why it's wrong here
Scanning after deployment is too late; vulnerabilities may already be exploited.
- ✗
Before code commit
Why it's wrong here
There is no image to scan before the code is built.
- ✓
After building the image but before pushing to registry
Why this is correct
Scanning at this stage prevents vulnerable images from being stored or deployed.
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 tests the concept of 'shift left' in security, and the trap here is that candidates may think scanning before code commit (Option C) is valid, but container images are not built until after the commit, so scanning must occur on the built image artifact.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, tools like Trivy or Clair analyze the image layers and package manifests (e.g., dpkg, RPM, Alpine APK) against vulnerability databases (e.g., NVD, Red Hat OVAL). In a real-world scenario, if scanning is delayed until after pushing to a registry, a malicious or vulnerable image could be pulled by other systems before the scan completes, defeating the purpose of a security gate. The pipeline should fail the build if the scan finds critical or high-severity CVEs, using exit codes from the scanner to enforce policy.
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.
- →
Supply Chain Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Supply Chain Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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All CKS questions
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Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist CKS study guide
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CKS practice test guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CKS question test?
Supply Chain Security — This question tests Supply Chain Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: After building the image but before pushing to registry — Container image scanning should be performed after building the image but before pushing it to the registry (Option D). This ensures that vulnerabilities are detected before the image is stored and distributed, preventing insecure images from being deployed. Scanning at this stage integrates security into the CI/CD pipeline, allowing teams to fail the build or trigger remediation before the image reaches production.
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 →
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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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