Question 407 of 720
CKS Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities Practice Question
Which TWO of the following are effective measures to minimize the impact of a compromised microservice container in a Kubernetes cluster? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the distinction between preventive controls (e.g., read-only filesystem, non-root user) and impact-minimization controls (e.g., resource limits, network policies), and candidates mistakenly choose read-only filesystem as an impact-minimization measure when it is actually a preventive measure.
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
✓
Set resource limits (CPU/memory) on the container
Setting resource limits (CPU/memory) on a container is correct because it prevents a compromised microservice from consuming excessive cluster resources, which could lead to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack against other workloads. By enforcing limits via the container's cgroup constraints, the kernel throttles or OOM-kills the container if it exceeds its allocated resources, containing the blast radius of the compromise.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Set resource limits (CPU/memory) on the container
Why this is correct
Resource limits prevent a compromised container from exhausting cluster resources.
- ✗
Set the container's root filesystem as read-only
Why it's wrong here
Read-only filesystem prevents malware installation but does not limit lateral movement.
- ✓
Apply a NetworkPolicy that restricts egress traffic to only necessary services
Why this is correct
Network policies limit the ability of a compromised container to communicate with other services.
- ✗
Run the container as root to simplify debugging
Why it's wrong here
Running as root increases the blast radius if the container is compromised.
- ✗
Use hostNetwork: true to share the host's network namespace
Why it's wrong here
HostNetwork exposes the host's network stack, increasing the attack surface.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.