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.
Which kube-apiserver flag enables encryption at rest for secrets?
--encryption-provider-config
This flag specifies the EncryptionConfiguration file.
--encryption-key-file
Why wrong: Not a valid flag.
--secret-encryption
Why wrong: Not a valid flag.
--enable-encryption
Why wrong: Not a valid flag.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--encryption-provider-config
The `--encryption-provider-config` flag is the correct answer because it is the kube-apiserver flag that specifies the path to a configuration file containing the encryption providers (like `aescbc`, `secretbox`, or `aesgcm`) and the associated keys for encrypting Kubernetes secrets at rest. This flag enables the encryption at rest feature for secrets and other resources, as defined in the encryption configuration file.
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.
--encryption-provider-config
Why this is correct
This flag specifies the EncryptionConfiguration file.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--encryption-key-file
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid flag.
--secret-encryption
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid flag.
--enable-encryption
Why it's wrong here
Not a valid flag.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse the `--encryption-provider-config` flag with a non-existent flag like `--enable-encryption` or `--secret-encryption`, assuming encryption at rest is enabled by a simple boolean flag rather than a configuration file reference.
Detailed technical explanation
The encryption configuration file is a YAML file that defines a list of providers (e.g., `aescbc`, `kms`, `secretbox`) with their keys, and the apiserver applies the first provider in the list for encryption and tries each provider in order for decryption. A subtle behavior is that if the `identity` provider is listed first, no encryption is applied, which is a common misconfiguration that leaves secrets unencrypted. In a real-world scenario, rotating encryption keys requires updating the configuration file and restarting the apiserver, and the `kms` provider is often used for cloud-managed key rotation without restarting the apiserver.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: --encryption-provider-config — The `--encryption-provider-config` flag is the correct answer because it is the kube-apiserver flag that specifies the path to a configuration file containing the encryption providers (like `aescbc`, `secretbox`, or `aesgcm`) and the associated keys for encrypting Kubernetes secrets at rest. This flag enables the encryption at rest feature for secrets and other resources, as defined in the encryption configuration file.
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 24, 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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