This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 kubectl command can be used to view the audit log policy currently in use by the API server?
Option C is correct because the audit policy file path is specified in the kube-apiserver manifest (usually a static pod YAML in /etc/kubernetes/manifests/). Running `kubectl get pod kube-apiserver-<node> -n kube-system -o yaml` and grepping for `audit-policy-file` reveals the exact path to the policy file currently in use, which is the authoritative way to confirm which audit policy the API server is loading.
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.
This command retrieves the API server manifest and shows the audit policy file path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
kubectl get auditpolicy
Why it's wrong here
There is no AuditPolicy resource.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume audit logs can be viewed via `kubectl logs` (Option A) or that audit policies are a native Kubernetes resource (Option D), when in fact the audit policy is a file referenced by a command-line flag in the API server manifest and must be inspected indirectly.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Logs may not show the policy file path.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The kube-apiserver static pod manifest is typically located at `/etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml` on the control-plane node. The `--audit-policy-file` flag in that manifest points to a YAML file (e.g., `/etc/kubernetes/audit-policy.yaml`) that defines rules for which events are logged and at what level (None, Metadata, Request, RequestResponse). In a real-world scenario, if you suspect the audit policy is misconfigured or not being applied, inspecting the manifest directly via `kubectl get pod -o yaml` is the fastest way to verify the flag without SSHing into the node.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CKS question in full detail.
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: kubectl get -n kube-system pods kube-apiserver-<node> -o yaml | grep audit-policy-file — Option C is correct because the audit policy file path is specified in the kube-apiserver manifest (usually a static pod YAML in /etc/kubernetes/manifests/). Running `kubectl get pod kube-apiserver-<node> -n kube-system -o yaml` and grepping for `audit-policy-file` reveals the exact path to the policy file currently in use, which is the authoritative way to confirm which audit policy the API server is loading.
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.
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Question Discussion
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