CAS-004 Security Architecture Practice Question
An organization is deploying a containerized application on Kubernetes and must enforce that only approved container images are allowed to run, and that containers cannot escalate privileges. Which combination of controls should the architect implement?
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
✓
Admission controllers with image signing and PodSecurityPolicy
Admission controllers intercept requests to the Kubernetes API server; PodSecurityPolicy (now replaced by Pod Security Standards) can enforce privilege escalation restrictions. Image signing ensures only approved images are run. Seccomp and AppArmor are runtime security profiles, but they don't enforce image approval. RBAC controls user access, not image approval. Network policies control traffic, not image approval.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Seccomp and AppArmor profiles with RBAC
Why it's wrong here
Seccomp/AppArmor restrict system calls but do not enforce approved images. RBAC controls user actions, not container images.
- ✗
Kubernetes network policies and RBAC
Why it's wrong here
Network policies control pod-to-pod traffic; RBAC controls user permissions. Neither enforces approved images nor prevents privilege escalation.
- ✓
Admission controllers with image signing and PodSecurityPolicy
Why this is correct
Admission controllers can validate image signatures and PodSecurityPolicy restricts privilege escalation. Together they enforce image approval and prevent privilege escalation.
- ✗
Container image scanning and network policies
Why it's wrong here
Scanning identifies vulnerabilities but does not block unauthorized images from running. Network policies restrict traffic, not image execution.
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 |
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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.