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 TWO of the following are CIS Benchmark recommendations for securing the Kubernetes API server? (Select TWO)
Disable RBAC
Why wrong: CIS recommends enabling RBAC.
Enable audit logging
Audit logging is recommended to monitor API requests.
Disable anonymous authentication
Disabling anonymous auth ensures all requests are authenticated.
Enable anonymous authentication
Why wrong: CIS recommends disabling anonymous auth.
Use TLS 1.0
Why wrong: TLS 1.0 is outdated and insecure; CIS recommends TLS 1.2 or higher.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable audit logging
Option B is correct because the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes recommends enabling audit logging to record all API server requests, which is essential for security monitoring, incident response, and compliance. Audit logs capture the sequence of actions performed by users, administrators, and system components, providing an immutable record that can be analyzed for suspicious activity or policy violations.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Disable RBAC
Why it's wrong here
CIS recommends enabling RBAC.
Enable audit logging
Why this is correct
Audit logging is recommended to monitor API requests.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Disable anonymous authentication
Why this is correct
Disabling anonymous auth ensures all requests are authenticated.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable anonymous authentication
Why it's wrong here
CIS recommends disabling anonymous auth.
Use TLS 1.0
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.0 is outdated and insecure; CIS recommends TLS 1.2 or higher.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between authentication and authorization, so candidates may confuse disabling anonymous authentication (a correct security practice) with enabling RBAC (also correct), but the trap is that the question asks for two specific CIS Benchmark recommendations, and disabling RBAC is never recommended—it is a dangerous misconfiguration.
Detailed technical explanation
The CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes (e.g., version 1.24) includes specific rules such as 'Ensure that the --audit-log-path argument is set' and 'Ensure that the --anonymous-auth argument is set to false'. Audit logging is implemented via the API server's dynamic audit configuration or static flags like --audit-log-path and --audit-log-maxbackup, and the logs are typically stored in JSON format for easy ingestion into SIEM systems. Disabling anonymous authentication is enforced by setting --anonymous-auth=false in the kube-apiserver manifest, which prevents unauthenticated users from accessing the API server's /healthz, /livez, or /openapi endpoints.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Enable audit logging — Option B is correct because the CIS Benchmark for Kubernetes recommends enabling audit logging to record all API server requests, which is essential for security monitoring, incident response, and compliance. Audit logs capture the sequence of actions performed by users, administrators, and system components, providing an immutable record that can be analyzed for suspicious activity or policy violations.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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