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System Hardening →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

CKS System Hardening Practice Question

This CKS practice question tests your understanding of system 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.

You are managing a Kubernetes cluster that hosts multiple microservices. The cluster uses Kubernetes v1.25. Recently, a security audit identified that containers are running with the default seccomp profile (unconfined). The security team has requested that all containers use a seccomp profile that blocks unnecessary syscalls. You need to implement this cluster-wide without breaking existing applications. The audit also found that the kubelet's anonymous authentication is enabled, which should be disabled. Additionally, you need to ensure that the kubelet's NodeRestriction admission controller is enabled to limit what nodes can do. Which of the following is the most appropriate sequence of actions?

Question 1mediummultiple choice
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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

✓

First, configure the kubelet to use a seccomp profile that logs violations (e.g., 'runtime/default' with log), then after verifying no breakage, switch to 'runtime/default'. Then disable anonymous authentication and enable NodeRestriction admission controller

Option D is correct because it follows the principle of least disruption: first, it applies the 'runtime/default' seccomp profile in logging mode to detect any blocked syscalls without breaking applications. After verifying no breakage, it switches to enforcing mode. Then, it disables anonymous authentication and enables the NodeRestriction admission controller, both of which are non-disruptive configuration changes. This sequence minimizes risk to existing workloads while meeting all audit requirements.

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.

  • ✗

    Disable anonymous authentication immediately, then enable NodeRestriction, and finally apply the restrictive seccomp profile

    Why it's wrong here

    Disabling auth first might break existing integrations; seccomp change should be gradual.

  • ✗

    Apply the 'runtime/default' seccomp profile cluster-wide immediately, then disable anonymous auth, and finally enable NodeRestriction

    Why it's wrong here

    Immediate enforcement of seccomp may break applications that rely on blocked syscalls.

  • ✗

    Enable NodeRestriction first, then apply a restrictive seccomp profile, and last disable anonymous authentication

    Why it's wrong here

    NodeRestriction is important but seccomp change could break apps if not tested.

  • ✓

    First, configure the kubelet to use a seccomp profile that logs violations (e.g., 'runtime/default' with log), then after verifying no breakage, switch to 'runtime/default'. Then disable anonymous authentication and enable NodeRestriction admission controller

    Why this is correct

    This minimizes disruption by testing seccomp before enforcing, and then hardens kubelet.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates rush to apply the restrictive seccomp profile immediately (options A, B, C) without considering the need for a gradual rollout via logging mode to avoid breaking existing applications, which is a key CKS focus on safe system hardening.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The 'runtime/default' seccomp profile in Kubernetes v1.25 uses the container runtime's default seccomp policy (e.g., containerd's default profile), which blocks approximately 44 syscalls (e.g., 'mount', 'pivot_root') while allowing common ones. Enabling logging mode (via 'seccompProfile.type: RuntimeDefault' with 'localhostProfile' pointing to a profile that logs) writes violations to the kubelet's system log (journald), allowing operators to audit syscalls without enforcement. The NodeRestriction admission controller limits node self-updates to only their own pods and node status, preventing privilege escalation via kubelet API.

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.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

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

Questions learners often ask

What does this CKS question test?

System Hardening — This question tests System Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: First, configure the kubelet to use a seccomp profile that logs violations (e.g., 'runtime/default' with log), then after verifying no breakage, switch to 'runtime/default'. Then disable anonymous authentication and enable NodeRestriction admission controller — Option D is correct because it follows the principle of least disruption: first, it applies the 'runtime/default' seccomp profile in logging mode to detect any blocked syscalls without breaking applications. After verifying no breakage, it switches to enforcing mode. Then, it disables anonymous authentication and enables the NodeRestriction admission controller, both of which are non-disruptive configuration changes. This sequence minimizes risk to existing workloads while meeting all audit requirements.

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.

About these practice questions

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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026

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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.