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 need to audit all API requests to the cluster. Which set of apiserver flags should be configured?
--audit-log-path, --audit-policy-file
These two enable audit logging.
--audit-log-maxage, --audit-log-maxbackup
Why wrong: These are rotation settings, not enabling.
--audit-webhook-config-file, --audit-webhook-mode
Why wrong: These are for webhook audit backend, not file-based.
--audit-dynamic-configuration
Why wrong: This enables dynamic reconfiguration, not audit logging itself.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
--audit-log-path, --audit-policy-file
To audit all API requests to the cluster, you must enable the audit logging feature in the kube-apiserver. The two essential flags are `--audit-log-path` to specify the file where audit events are written and `--audit-policy-file` to define the rules that determine which events are logged. Without both, the apiserver will not generate audit logs at all.
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.
--audit-log-path, --audit-policy-file
Why this is correct
These two enable audit logging.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
--audit-log-maxage, --audit-log-maxbackup
Why it's wrong here
These are rotation settings, not enabling.
--audit-webhook-config-file, --audit-webhook-mode
Why it's wrong here
These are for webhook audit backend, not file-based.
--audit-dynamic-configuration
Why it's wrong here
This enables dynamic reconfiguration, not audit logging itself.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the distinction between enabling audit logging and configuring its advanced features, so candidates mistakenly pick rotation or webhook options thinking they are the primary enablers.
Detailed technical explanation
The audit policy file uses a YAML format with `rules` that specify `level` (None, Metadata, Request, RequestResponse) and `resources` to filter. When `--audit-log-path` is set, the apiserver writes JSON-formatted audit events to that file; without it, no log backend is active. In a real-world scenario, you might combine these flags with `--audit-log-maxsize` to cap file size and prevent disk exhaustion, but the core requirement for auditing is always the path and policy file.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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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: --audit-log-path, --audit-policy-file — To audit all API requests to the cluster, you must enable the audit logging feature in the kube-apiserver. The two essential flags are `--audit-log-path` to specify the file where audit events are written and `--audit-policy-file` to define the rules that determine which events are logged. Without both, the apiserver will not generate audit logs at all.
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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