KCNA Cloud Native Architecture Practice Question
You are implementing an API gateway pattern for a set of microservices. Which of the following is a typical responsibility of an API gateway?
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
✓
Enforcing authentication and rate limiting
An API gateway handles cross-cutting concerns like authentication, rate limiting, routing, and aggregation. Direct database access (B) is an antipattern, managing container lifecycle (A) is Kubernetes' job, and storing application state (C) is not a gateway function.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Managing container lifecycle and scaling
Why it's wrong here
This is handled by orchestration platforms.
- ✗
Directly accessing databases to serve requests
Why it's wrong here
Gateways should not directly access databases.
- ✗
Storing application state and session data
Why it's wrong here
State should be managed by the backend services.
- ✓
Enforcing authentication and rate limiting
Why this is correct
These are common gateway responsibilities.
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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.