This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup. 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 responsible for securing a multi-tenant Kubernetes cluster that uses kubeadm for bootstrapping. The cluster has three control plane nodes and five worker nodes, all running Ubuntu 22.04. A recent security scan discovered that the etcd data directory is not encrypted at rest. The cluster stores sensitive customer data in secrets. You plan to enable encryption at rest for etcd. You have already created an encryption configuration file and placed it at /etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml. The cluster is currently running Kubernetes v1.28.0 with etcd v3.5.9. You need to ensure that all existing and new secrets are encrypted. You also want to minimize downtime. Which of the following steps should you take?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Edit the etcd configuration to use the encryption config file directly
Why wrong: Encryption is handled by the API server, not etcd directly.
B
Add --experimental-encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest and restart the kubelet
Why wrong: The flag is deprecated; use --encryption-provider-config.
C
Move the etcd data directory to an encrypted filesystem using LUKS
Why wrong: This encrypts at the filesystem level, but the question asks for etcd encryption at rest via Kubernetes mechanism.
D
Add --encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest, then kubelet will automatically restart the static pod
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add --encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest, then kubelet will automatically restart the static pod
Option D is correct because in Kubernetes v1.28, the `--experimental-encryption-provider-config` flag has been graduated to stable and renamed to `--encryption-provider-config`. Adding this flag to the kube-apiserver manifest (static pod YAML) causes the kubelet to automatically restart the static pod when the manifest file changes, minimizing downtime. This ensures both existing and new secrets are encrypted using the configured provider (e.g., AES-CBC or secretbox) as the apiserver rewrites existing secrets on startup.
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.
✗
Edit the etcd configuration to use the encryption config file directly
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is handled by the API server, not etcd directly.
✗
Add --experimental-encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest and restart the kubelet
Why it's wrong here
The flag is deprecated; use --encryption-provider-config.
✗
Move the etcd data directory to an encrypted filesystem using LUKS
Why it's wrong here
This encrypts at the filesystem level, but the question asks for etcd encryption at rest via Kubernetes mechanism.
✓
Add --encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest, then kubelet will automatically restart the static pod
Why this is correct
Correct flag and automatic restart by kubelet.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
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 may confuse the deprecated `--experimental-encryption-provider-config` flag with the stable `--encryption-provider-config` flag, or think they need to manually restart the kubelet or modify etcd directly, when in fact the kubelet auto-restarts static pods and the apiserver handles encryption transparently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The encryption provider configuration file defines a list of providers (e.g., `aescbc`, `secretbox`, `identity`) and resources (e.g., `secrets`) to encrypt. When the kube-apiserver starts with `--encryption-provider-config`, it rewrites all existing resources of the specified types in etcd using the first provider in the list, ensuring backward compatibility. The kubelet watches the static pod manifest directory (e.g., `/etc/kubernetes/manifests`) and automatically restarts the pod when the manifest changes, which is why no manual restart is needed.
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 — This question tests Cluster Setup — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add --encryption-provider-config=/etc/kubernetes/encryption-config.yaml to the kube-apiserver manifest, then kubelet will automatically restart the static pod — Option D is correct because in Kubernetes v1.28, the `--experimental-encryption-provider-config` flag has been graduated to stable and renamed to `--encryption-provider-config`. Adding this flag to the kube-apiserver manifest (static pod YAML) causes the kubelet to automatically restart the static pod when the manifest file changes, minimizing downtime. This ensures both existing and new secrets are encrypted using the configured provider (e.g., AES-CBC or secretbox) as the apiserver rewrites existing secrets on startup.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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