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 THREE of the following are recommended actions to secure the Kubernetes Dashboard? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use RBAC to create a dedicated service account with minimal permissions
Option A is correct because the Kubernetes Dashboard should be accessed using a dedicated service account with minimal permissions via RBAC. This follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring the dashboard only has the permissions necessary for its function, reducing the attack surface. By default, the dashboard's service account has minimal permissions, but binding it to a role with excessive privileges (like cluster-admin) would be a security risk.
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.
✓
Use RBAC to create a dedicated service account with minimal permissions
Why this is correct
Least privilege reduces risk.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Expose the Dashboard via an Ingress with a public domain
Why it's wrong here
Public exposure is not recommended.
✗
Enable HTTPS for Dashboard communications
Why it's wrong here
This is good practice but not a specific security hardening action; it's assumed.
✓
Do not bind the Dashboard's service account to the cluster-admin role
Why this is correct
Cluster-admin grants full access, which is dangerous.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Avoid exposing the Dashboard via a public LoadBalancer
Why this is correct
Public exposure increases attack surface.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the distinction between actions that are recommended (like using RBAC with minimal permissions) versus actions that are explicitly discouraged (like binding to cluster-admin or exposing via public endpoints), and candidates may mistakenly think enabling HTTPS is a 'recommended action' in this context, but it is not listed among the three correct options here because the question focuses on access control and exposure, not encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the Kubernetes Dashboard uses a service account to authenticate with the Kubernetes API server. When RBAC is properly configured, the dashboard's service account is bound to a Role or ClusterRole with minimal permissions, such as view-only access to specific namespaces. In a real-world scenario, an attacker who gains access to the dashboard via a public endpoint (e.g., LoadBalancer or Ingress) could exploit excessive permissions to escalate privileges, delete resources, or exfiltrate data. The recommended approach is to use kubectl proxy to access the dashboard locally, which creates a secure tunnel and avoids exposing the dashboard to the network.
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.
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: Use RBAC to create a dedicated service account with minimal permissions — Option A is correct because the Kubernetes Dashboard should be accessed using a dedicated service account with minimal permissions via RBAC. This follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring the dashboard only has the permissions necessary for its function, reducing the attack surface. By default, the dashboard's service account has minimal permissions, but binding it to a role with excessive privileges (like cluster-admin) would be a security risk.
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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