CKS Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security Practice Question
Which THREE of the following are recommended steps when responding to a compromised pod?
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
✓
Scale the deployment replicas to zero to stop the pod
Isolating the pod via NetworkPolicy, capturing a forensic snapshot (e.g., using kubectl cp), and scaling replicas to zero are all valid steps. Deleting the pod immediately may destroy evidence. Running commands inside the pod could alter state.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Immediately delete the pod to stop the attack
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the pod destroys evidence and may not stop the attack if the attacker has persistence.
- ✓
Scale the deployment replicas to zero to stop the pod
Why this is correct
Scaling to zero stops the pod without deleting it, preserving evidence.
- ✗
Run kubectl exec to investigate the container's state
Why it's wrong here
Running commands inside the container may alert the attacker or alter evidence.
- ✓
Isolate the pod using a NetworkPolicy that denies all egress
Why this is correct
Isolation limits the attacker's ability to communicate laterally.
- ✓
Capture a snapshot of the container's filesystem using kubectl cp
Why this is correct
This preserves evidence for forensic analysis.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.