KCSA Kubernetes Cluster Component Security Practice Question
You are hardening etcd and want to ensure that sensitive data stored in Kubernetes secrets is encrypted at rest within etcd. Which API server configuration file parameter specifies how secrets should be encrypted?
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
✓
--encryption-provider-config
Encryption at rest is configured using an EncryptionConfiguration file passed to the API server via the --encryption-provider-config flag.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
--etcd-encryption-key
Why it's wrong here
This is not a valid kube-apiserver flag.
- ✗
--secrets-encryption-enabled
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is configured via provider config files rather than a simple boolean flag.
- ✓
--encryption-provider-config
Why this is correct
This flag points to the configuration file defining encryption providers like aescbc or secretbox.
- ✗
--etcd-ca-file
Why it's wrong here
The --etcd-ca-file flag is used for TLS transport security, not data-at-rest encryption.
About these practice questions
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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.