This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 practices for securing the Kubernetes API server? (Select TWO)
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 C is correct because enabling audit logging on the API server records all requests to the cluster, providing an immutable record for security monitoring, incident response, and compliance. Audit logs are essential for detecting unauthorized access attempts, misconfigurations, and policy violations, and are a core requirement for Kubernetes security hardening.
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.
✗
Set --cors-allowed-origins=* for easy access.
Why it's wrong here
Wildcard CORS allows any origin, increasing risk of CSRF attacks.
✗
Disable TLS to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
TLS is essential for encryption; disabling it compromises security.
✓
Enable audit logging.
Why this is correct
Audit logs help detect and investigate suspicious activities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set --insecure-port=8080 to allow non-TLS access.
Why it's wrong here
Insecure port is deprecated and should be disabled.
✓
Set --anonymous-auth=false.
Why this is correct
Prevents unauthenticated requests to the API server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that disabling security features (like TLS or authentication) improves performance or simplifies access, when in fact these actions directly violate the principle of defense in depth and are explicitly discouraged in Kubernetes security best practices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Audit logging in Kubernetes is configured via the --audit-policy-file and --audit-log-path flags, with policy stages (RequestReceived, ResponseStarted, ResponseComplete, Panic) and levels (None, Metadata, Request, RequestResponse) that control verbosity. In a real-world scenario, enabling audit logging with a policy that logs all requests at the Metadata level (or higher for sensitive namespaces) allows security teams to reconstruct events after a breach, such as identifying which user or service account executed a kubectl exec into a critical pod. The logs are typically shipped to a centralized SIEM (e.g., Elasticsearch, Splunk) via a log shipper like Fluentd, enabling real-time alerting on suspicious patterns like repeated authentication failures or access to 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: Enable audit logging. — Option C is correct because enabling audit logging on the API server records all requests to the cluster, providing an immutable record for security monitoring, incident response, and compliance. Audit logs are essential for detecting unauthorized access attempts, misconfigurations, and policy violations, and are a core requirement for Kubernetes security hardening.
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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