This CKS practice question tests your understanding of cluster setup and hardening. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 run 'kubectl auth can-i --list --as=admin' and see that the admin user has full cluster-admin access. Which command would create a ClusterRoleBinding for a user named 'viewer' with read-only access to all resources?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Option D is correct because it uses `kubectl create clusterrolebinding` to bind the built-in `view` ClusterRole (which grants read-only access: get, list, watch) to the user `viewer` at the cluster scope. A ClusterRoleBinding is required to grant permissions across all namespaces, and the `--clusterrole` flag correctly references the ClusterRole, not a Role.
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.
This binds the 'view' ClusterRole to user 'viewer'.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" 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 confuse `rolebinding` with `clusterrolebinding` and `--role` with `--clusterrole`, leading them to pick options that either limit permissions to a single namespace or use incorrect syntax for binding a ClusterRole.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `view` ClusterRole is one of four default Kubernetes RBAC roles (view, edit, admin, cluster-admin) defined in the system's `clusterroles` resource. When bound via a ClusterRoleBinding, the permissions apply to all namespaces, including system namespaces like `kube-system`, which can be a security concern in production if not carefully scoped. The `kubectl auth can-i --list` command checks the current user's effective permissions by evaluating all RoleBindings and ClusterRoleBindings, making it a useful tool for verifying RBAC configurations.
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: kubectl create clusterrolebinding viewer-binding --clusterrole=view --user=viewer — Option D is correct because it uses `kubectl create clusterrolebinding` to bind the built-in `view` ClusterRole (which grants read-only access: get, list, watch) to the user `viewer` at the cluster scope. A ClusterRoleBinding is required to grant permissions across all namespaces, and the `--clusterrole` flag correctly references the ClusterRole, not a Role.
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: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
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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