CAS-004 Security Architecture Practice Question
A security architect is designing a Kubernetes cluster for a government agency that requires high security and compliance with FedRAMP. The cluster will host microservices processing sensitive data. Which TWO configurations are most critical for hardening the Kubernetes environment? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) restricts user and service account permissions, enforcing least privilege. Network policies control pod-to-pod communication, enabling micro-segmentation. Pod security policies (now replaced by Pod Security Standards) are important but less critical than RBAC and network policies. Image scanning and runtime security are important but are container security measures, not Kubernetes-specific hardening.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deploying runtime security with seccomp and AppArmor
Why it's wrong here
These are container runtime security measures; while valuable, they are not the most critical for Kubernetes hardening.
- ✗
Enabling container image scanning
Why it's wrong here
Image scanning is important but is a container security practice, not a Kubernetes-specific hardening step.
- ✓
Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Why this is correct
RBAC ensures that only authorized users and service accounts have appropriate permissions, a fundamental security control.
- ✗
Using admission controllers like PodSecurityPolicy
Why it's wrong here
PodSecurityPolicy is deprecated; Pod Security Standards are recommended but not as critical as RBAC and network policies.
- ✓
Configuring network policies to restrict pod communication
Why this is correct
Network policies allow fine-grained control over east-west traffic, reducing lateral movement.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CAS-005 exam.