This KCNA practice question tests your understanding of cloud native architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 TWO of the following are core principles of the 12-factor app methodology? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Strict separation of config from code
Option D is correct because the 12-factor app methodology mandates strict separation of config from code. Config includes things like database connection strings, API keys, and environment-specific values that vary between deployments. Storing these in environment variables (or external config files not checked into version control) ensures that the same codebase can be deployed to different environments without modification, which is a core principle for cloud-native portability and security.
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.
✗
Manual approval for all production deployments
Why it's wrong here
12-factor advocates for continuous deployment with automated pipelines.
✗
Use of a single programming language across all services
Why it's wrong here
12-factor encourages polyglot, not a single language.
✗
Store logs in a local file system
Why it's wrong here
12-factor treats logs as event streams, not stored locally.
✓
Strict separation of config from code
Why this is correct
Config should be stored in environment variables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Maximize robustness through fast startup and graceful shutdown
Why this is correct
This is the 'Disposability' factor.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CNCF often tests the misconception that logs should be stored locally for reliability, but the 12-factor methodology treats logs as event streams to stdout, relying on the execution environment (e.g., kubectl logs, log shippers) for aggregation and persistence.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 12-factor config principle relies on environment variables (env vars) as the standard mechanism for injection, which are natively supported by all operating systems and container runtimes like Docker and Kubernetes. In Kubernetes, this is implemented via ConfigMaps and Secrets, which are mounted as environment variables or volumes, ensuring that config changes can be made without rebuilding the container image. A subtle but critical behavior is that env vars are immutable at runtime within a process, which prevents accidental overwrites and enforces a clean separation from the codebase.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this KCNA question in full detail.
Cloud Native Architecture — This question tests Cloud Native Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Strict separation of config from code — Option D is correct because the 12-factor app methodology mandates strict separation of config from code. Config includes things like database connection strings, API keys, and environment-specific values that vary between deployments. Storing these in environment variables (or external config files not checked into version control) ensures that the same codebase can be deployed to different environments without modification, which is a core principle for cloud-native portability and security.
What should I do if I get this KCNA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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