This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. 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.
Which TWO actions are recommended by the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark for securing etcd?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable TLS client-to-server and peer communication
Option A is correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark recommends enabling TLS for both client-to-server and peer communication in etcd to ensure data in transit is encrypted and authenticated. This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized access to the etcd cluster, which stores all cluster state and secrets.
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.
✓
Enable TLS client-to-server and peer communication
Why this is correct
Enabling TLS encrypts communication and verifies identities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable anonymous authentication on etcd
Why it's wrong here
etcd does not have anonymous authentication; it uses client certs.
✗
Run etcd as a Service type LoadBalancer
Why it's wrong here
etcd should not be exposed externally.
✓
Restrict access to etcd using RBAC
Why this is correct
etcd supports RBAC to limit who can access the key-value store.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use etcd's built-in encryption at rest
Why it's wrong here
etcd does not have built-in encryption at rest; Kubernetes uses EncryptionConfiguration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse etcd's built-in encryption at rest (which is not recommended by the CIS Benchmark) with the Kubernetes API server's encryption provider, leading them to select option E instead of focusing on TLS and RBAC as the benchmark's explicit recommendations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The CIS Benchmark for etcd (section 2.1) specifically requires `--client-cert-auth=true` and `--peer-client-cert-auth=true` to enforce TLS mutual authentication, along with `--trusted-ca-file` and `--cert-file` flags. In a real-world scenario, failing to enable peer TLS can allow a compromised node to join the etcd cluster and exfiltrate secrets, as etcd uses the Raft consensus protocol where peers communicate over unencrypted HTTP by default.
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.
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: Enable TLS client-to-server and peer communication — Option A is correct because the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark recommends enabling TLS for both client-to-server and peer communication in etcd to ensure data in transit is encrypted and authenticated. This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized access to the etcd cluster, which stores all cluster state and secrets.
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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