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 admission plugins are recommended by the CIS benchmark to be enabled on the kube-apiserver? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
NodeRestriction
The CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes recommends enabling the NodeRestriction and ServiceAccount admission plugins on the kube-apiserver. NodeRestriction limits the Node identity's ability to modify Node and Pod objects, enforcing the principle of least privilege for kubelets. ServiceAccount ensures that every Pod is assigned a default ServiceAccount and that the token is automatically mounted, which is essential for secure pod-to-API-server communication.
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.
✗
AlwaysDeny
Why it's wrong here
AlwaysDeny would block all requests, making the cluster unusable.
✓
NodeRestriction
Why this is correct
NodeRestriction limits kubelet permissions and is recommended by CIS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
ServiceAccount
Why this is correct
ServiceAccount manages service account token automount and is enabled by default; CIS recommends keeping it enabled.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AlwaysAdmit
Why it's wrong here
AlwaysAdmit allows all requests without any restrictions, which is insecure.
✗
PodSecurityPolicy
Why it's wrong here
PodSecurityPolicy is deprecated and replaced by Pod Security Admission.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that deprecated or removed plugins like PodSecurityPolicy are still recommended, or that blanket deny/admit plugins are viable hardening measures, when in fact the CIS Benchmark focuses on least-privilege and default-secure plugins like NodeRestriction and ServiceAccount.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The NodeRestriction plugin works by validating that kubelet requests to modify Node objects are limited to the node the kubelet is running on, and that Pod updates are restricted to pods bound to that node. The ServiceAccount plugin automatically injects a default service account into every namespace if none is specified, and mounts its token into the pod's filesystem, which is critical for RBAC-based authentication. Both plugins are enabled by default in many Kubernetes distributions, but the CIS Benchmark explicitly calls them out as mandatory for a hardened cluster.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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: NodeRestriction — The CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes recommends enabling the NodeRestriction and ServiceAccount admission plugins on the kube-apiserver. NodeRestriction limits the Node identity's ability to modify Node and Pod objects, enforcing the principle of least privilege for kubelets. ServiceAccount ensures that every Pod is assigned a default ServiceAccount and that the token is automatically mounted, which is essential for secure pod-to-API-server communication.
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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