KCSA Compliance And Security Frameworks Practice Question
An auditor is inspecting a Kubernetes cluster for compliance with the CIS Benchmark for etcd security. Which THREE configurations must be verified for the etcd cluster? (Choose THREE)
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
✓
Peer communication is encrypted using TLS certificates
CIS benchmarks for etcd focus on client certificates (mTLS), peer communication encryption, and secure file permissions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Peer communication is encrypted using TLS certificates
Why this is correct
etcd cluster peer-to-peer traffic must be encrypted with TLS.
- ✓
Client certificate authentication is enabled for etcd (--client-cert-auth=true)
Why this is correct
Enabling client certificate authentication ensures only trusted clients connect to etcd.
- ✗
etcd auto-compaction is permanently disabled
Why it's wrong here
Auto-compaction settings do not dictate security compliance.
- ✗
etcd is exposed directly on the public internet without authentication
Why it's wrong here
Exposing etcd publicly is a critical security vulnerability.
- ✓
etcd data directory permissions are restricted (e.g., 700)
Why this is correct
etcd data contains cluster state and secrets, requiring restricted file permissions.
About these practice questions
One of 319 original KCSA practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official CNCF / Linux Foundation exam blueprint
This KCSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF / Linux Foundation 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 KCSA exam.