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.
You have a requirement to encrypt secrets at rest in etcd. Which resource and apiVersion should be used?
EtcdEncryption with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
Why wrong: Wrong resource name and deprecated version.
EncryptionConfig with apiVersion v1
Why wrong: Incorrect resource name.
SecretEncryption with apiVersion v1
Why wrong: No such resource exists.
EncryptionConfiguration with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1
This is the correct resource for configuring encryption at rest.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
EncryptionConfiguration with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1
Option D is correct because the Kubernetes API server uses an `EncryptionConfiguration` resource with `apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1` to define how secrets and other resources are encrypted at rest in etcd. This resource specifies providers (e.g., `aescbc`, `secretbox`) and keys, and is loaded via the `--encryption-provider-config` flag on the API server. The `v1` version is the stable, production-ready API version for this configuration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
EtcdEncryption with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1beta1
Why it's wrong here
Wrong resource name and deprecated version.
EncryptionConfig with apiVersion v1
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect resource name.
SecretEncryption with apiVersion v1
Why it's wrong here
No such resource exists.
EncryptionConfiguration with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1
Why this is correct
This is the correct resource for configuring encryption at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the exact resource name and API group, and the trap here is that candidates confuse `EncryptionConfiguration` with made-up names like `EtcdEncryption` or `SecretEncryption`, or incorrectly assume it belongs to the core `v1` API group instead of `apiserver.config.k8s.io`.
Detailed technical explanation
The `EncryptionConfiguration` resource supports multiple encryption providers (e.g., `identity`, `aescbc`, `kms`, `secretbox`) that are tried in order; the first provider that can encrypt is used, and all providers are tried for decryption. Under the hood, the API server intercepts writes to etcd and encrypts the raw data using the configured provider, then decrypts on reads. A real-world scenario is rotating encryption keys without downtime by adding a new key as the first provider while keeping old keys for decryption.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Cluster Setup and Hardening — This question tests Cluster Setup and Hardening — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: EncryptionConfiguration with apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1 — Option D is correct because the Kubernetes API server uses an `EncryptionConfiguration` resource with `apiVersion apiserver.config.k8s.io/v1` to define how secrets and other resources are encrypted at rest in etcd. This resource specifies providers (e.g., `aescbc`, `secretbox`) and keys, and is loaded via the `--encryption-provider-config` flag on the API server. The `v1` version is the stable, production-ready API version for this configuration.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
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