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 of the following are recommended CIS benchmark practices for securing etcd? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use TLS certificates for client-to-server communication
Option A is correct because the CIS benchmark for etcd recommends using TLS certificates for client-to-server communication 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 critical 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.
✓
Use TLS certificates for client-to-server communication
Why this is correct
CIS recommends using TLS to secure communication between the API server and etcd.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Run etcd as root user
Why it's wrong here
etcd should run as a non-root user for security.
✗
Disable authentication for etcd to reduce latency
Why it's wrong here
Authentication should be enabled to prevent unauthorized access.
✓
Enable encryption at rest
Why this is correct
CIS recommends encrypting etcd data at rest to protect sensitive information.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Expose etcd to the public internet for easier management
Why it's wrong here
etcd should not be exposed publicly; it should be accessible only from the API server.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that disabling authentication reduces latency and is acceptable for performance, but the CIS benchmark explicitly requires authentication and encryption for all etcd communication, and candidates may overlook the security implications of running etcd as root or exposing it publicly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
etcd uses mutual TLS (mTLS) for client-to-server and peer-to-peer communication, where both sides present certificates signed by a trusted CA. Under the hood, etcd validates certificate chains and optionally checks Common Name (CN) or Subject Alternative Name (SAN) against allowed lists. In real-world scenarios, misconfiguring TLS or exposing etcd endpoints can lead to cluster compromise, as seen in attacks where unauthenticated etcd instances leaked Kubernetes secrets.
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: Use TLS certificates for client-to-server communication — Option A is correct because the CIS benchmark for etcd recommends using TLS certificates for client-to-server communication 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 critical 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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