This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of container orchestration. 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.
Which Kubernetes resource can be used to define network policies that control traffic between pods?
Service
Why wrong: Service exposes pods, but does not control traffic policies.
PodSecurityPolicy
Why wrong: Deprecated and focused on security contexts.
NetworkPolicy
Correct. NetworkPolicy defines rules for pod-to-pod communication.
Ingress
Why wrong: Ingress controls external HTTP traffic to services.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
NetworkPolicy
NetworkPolicy is a Kubernetes resource that defines how groups of pods are allowed to communicate with each other and other network endpoints. It works by specifying ingress and egress rules using pod selectors, namespace selectors, and IP blocks, and is enforced by a network plugin (CNI) that supports it, such as Calico or Cilium.
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.
Service
Why it's wrong here
Service exposes pods, but does not control traffic policies.
PodSecurityPolicy
Why it's wrong here
Deprecated and focused on security contexts.
NetworkPolicy
Why this is correct
Correct. NetworkPolicy defines rules for pod-to-pod communication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Ingress
Why it's wrong here
Ingress controls external HTTP traffic to services.
Common exam traps
CNCF often tests the misconception that Ingress or Service can restrict pod-to-pod traffic, but Ingress only handles external HTTP/HTTPS traffic and Service only provides connectivity, not policy enforcement.
Detailed technical explanation
NetworkPolicy rules are evaluated at the pod level using labels and selectors, and they operate at Layer 3/4 (IP and port) of the OSI model; they do not support Layer 7 filtering natively. A common subtlety is that if no NetworkPolicy selects a pod, all traffic is allowed, but once any NetworkPolicy selects a pod, all traffic not explicitly allowed by a rule is denied (default-deny behavior). In real-world scenarios, teams often deploy a default-deny-all NetworkPolicy to enforce zero-trust networking, then selectively open ports for specific microservices.
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 KCNA 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
Container Orchestration — This question tests Container Orchestration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: NetworkPolicy — NetworkPolicy is a Kubernetes resource that defines how groups of pods are allowed to communicate with each other and other network endpoints. It works by specifying ingress and egress rules using pod selectors, namespace selectors, and IP blocks, and is enforced by a network plugin (CNI) that supports it, such as Calico or Cilium.
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 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.
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