KCNA Cloud Native Application Delivery Practice Question
A team is deploying a new microservice that processes sensitive user data. They want to ensure that secrets such as database passwords are not exposed in the container image or environment variables. Which approach should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
CNCF often tests the misconception that ConfigMaps are suitable for secrets because they can store key-value pairs, but the trap is that ConfigMaps store data in plaintext and are not designed for sensitive information, whereas Secrets provide base64 encoding and optional encryption at rest.
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
✓
Store the secret in a Kubernetes Secret and mount it as a volume in the pod
Kubernetes Secrets are designed specifically to store sensitive data like database passwords. Mounting the Secret as a volume ensures the secret data is available to the pod as files, without being exposed in environment variables (which can be leaked via logs or `kubectl describe`) or embedded in the container image. This approach follows security best practices for handling sensitive information in cloud-native applications.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Embed the secret directly in the Docker image and use it via environment variables
Why it's wrong here
Embedding secrets in images is insecure and violates best practices.
- ✗
Store the secret in a ConfigMap and reference it in the pod spec
Why it's wrong here
ConfigMaps are not designed for secrets and are not encrypted.
- ✓
Store the secret in a Kubernetes Secret and mount it as a volume in the pod
Why this is correct
Secrets are designed for sensitive data; volume mounts reduce exposure.
- ✗
Use a PersistentVolumeClaim to store the secret and mount it into the pod
Why it's wrong here
PVCs are for storage, not for secrets; this is not a standard pattern.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This KCNA 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 KCNA exam.