Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate Dumps & Practice Material

Advance your cloud-native security career with these expertly compiled dumps and practice tests for the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) certification. Aligned with real-world security scenarios, these KCSA dumps and sample questions cover key exam areas including secure cluster configuration, network policies, RBAC, and supply chain security. Whether you're preparing to become a certified Kubernetes security specialist or enhancing your DevSecOps credentials, this content ensures readiness through hands-on practice and scenario-based questions. With updated 2025 materials, these resources help you understand complex Kubernetes security frameworks and pass the KCSA certification confidently.

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate Dumps & Sample Questions List :

1. In managed Kubernetes services (e.g., EKS, GKE, AKS), who is responsible for managing the etcd cluster?

1. etcd is not used in managed services

2. A third-party vendor manages etcd

3. The Kubernetes community manages etcd

4. The user manages etcd directly

5. The cloud provider manages etcd

2. What is the primary function of a Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) in Kubernetes?

1. Schedules pods to nodes

2. Balances network traffic

3. Scales pods based on CPU utilization

4. Automatically scales nodes

5. Manages storage volumes

3. What is a common mitigation strategy for 'Tampering' threats in Kubernetes?

1. Implementing multi-factor authentication

2. Applying redundant servers

3. Enforcing password complexity

4. Implementing strong authentication

5. Using digital signatures and checksums

4. What is the primary role of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in IT security?

1. Maintaining container images

2. Managing network configurations

3. Handling storage volumes

4. Issuing and managing digital certificates and encryption keys

5. Collecting and analyzing application logs

5. Which Kubernetes resource is used to enforce network segmentation between pods?

1. Ingress

2. LimitRange

3. ResourceQuota

4. NetworkPolicy

5. PodSecurityPolicy

6. Which of the following can be used to secure communication between the API Server and other Kubernetes components?

1. TLS certificates.

2. Network policies.

3. Role-based access control.

4. iptables configuration.

7. Which Docker flag allows a container to share the PID namespace with another container named 'container1'?

1. --pid=container:container1

2. --pid=host

3. --pid=container1

4. --net=container:container1

5. --namespace=pid:container1

8. What is the primary function of Resource Quotas in a Kubernetes namespace?

1. Restrict access to the Kubernetes API server

2. Control the amount of resources consumed within a namespace

3. Schedule pods to specific nodes

4. Enforce network policies

5. Limit the number of namespaces in the cluster

9. Which Kubernetes resource is used to enforce Pod Security Standards within a namespace?

1. LimitRange

2. ResourceQuota

3. Pod Security Admission Controller

4. NetworkPolicy

5. PodSecurityPolicy

10. Which Kubernetes resource enables automatic horizontal scaling of Pods based on observed CPU utilization?

1. HorizontalPodAutoscaler

2. LimitRange

3. VerticalPodAutoscaler

4. ResourceQuota

5. Deployment

11. What is the primary benefit of using Kubernetes namespaces for isolation and segmentation in a cluster?

1. They enable resource and access constraints within a cluster.

2. They allow you to create new API objects.

3. They speed up pod deployment.

4. They provide high availability for applications.

12. Which of the following are best practices for securing etcd in a Kubernetes cluster? (Select all that apply)

1. Enable TLS encryption for all communication with etcd

2. Limit access to etcd endpoints to trusted networks only

3. Store etcd backups in a secure and access-controlled location

4. Use authentication and authorization mechanisms for etcd access

5. Expose etcd endpoints publicly to facilitate monitoring

13. How does a Network Policy in Kubernetes help enhance security within a cluster?

1. By restricting network traffic to and from pods based on label selectors.

2. By encrypting all network traffic.

3. By providing a default deny-all rule for cluster communication.

4. By automatically updating DNS records.

14. Which command is recommended to check the readiness and status of Kubernetes cluster components?

1. kubectl get components

2. kubectl get cs

3. kubectl get --raw='/readyz?verbose'

4. kubectl describe components

5. kubectl get componentstatuses

15. If the Kubernetes API server is not responding, which configuration file should you check for possible misconfigurations?

1. /var/log/kube-apiserver.log

2. /etc/kubernetes/config/apiserver.conf

3. /var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml

4. /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-scheduler.yaml

5. /etc/kubernetes/manifests/kube-apiserver.yaml

16. Which methods can be used to isolate resources effectively in a multi-tenant Kubernetes environment? (Select all that apply)

1. Disabling resource quotas to allow unlimited resource usage

2. Applying Kubernetes Network Policies to restrict traffic

3. Deploying separate Kubernetes clusters for each tenant

4. Sharing service accounts among tenants to simplify access

5. Using Kubernetes namespaces combined with Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

17. Which open-source tool specializes in static security analysis of Kubernetes manifests through vulnerability scanning and policy checks?

1. kubectl (cluster management CLI)

2. kubelet (node agent)

3. kubesec (security risk analysis)

4. kube-hunter (penetration testing tool)

5. etcdctl (key-value store client)

18. If a user is granted the 'cluster-admin' ClusterRole through a RoleBinding, what level of access will they have?

1. No permissions; ClusterRoles require ClusterRoleBindings to take effect

2. Read-only access to all resources in the cluster

3. Access only to service accounts within the namespace

4. Full cluster-wide administrative privileges

5. Full administrative privileges limited to the namespace where the RoleBinding is applied

19. Which of the following Kubernetes tools can be used to automate compliance checks and enforce security policies within clusters?

1. Helm

2. Kubesec

3. Kubeadm

4. Kube-bench

20. What is the primary function of the Open Policy Agent (OPA) in Kubernetes environments?

1. A built-in Kubernetes admission controller for validating resources

2. A general-purpose policy engine that enables defining and enforcing custom policies

3. A secret management system for storing sensitive data

4. A tool for monitoring and analyzing cluster performance metrics

5. A network policy enforcement tool for controlling pod communication

21. What is the primary objective of threat modeling in the context of Kubernetes security?

1. To visualize data flows and identify potential attack vectors within cluster configurations

2. To accelerate pipeline deployments in CI/CD

3. To define default CPU and memory limits for all workloads

4. To enforce container image scanning during runtime

5. To conduct load testing on container orchestration systems

22. If Kubernetes audit logs are stored at '/var/log/kubernetes/audit.log', which command can you use to view these logs in real time?

1. kubectl get events --audit

2. kubectl logs audit

3. sudo tail -f /var/log/kubernetes/audit.log

4. journalctl -u kube-apiserver

5. kubectl describe audit-logs

23. What is the primary protocol used by clients to communicate securely with the Kubernetes API server?

1. HTTP

2. FTP

3. SSH

4. HTTPS

24. Which of the following practices is essential for ensuring supply chain security in Kubernetes?

1. Keeping software dependencies up-to-date with the latest versions.

2. Restricting network access using NetworkPolicies.

3. Utilizing a reverse proxy for incoming traffic.

4. Reducing CPU and memory limits for containers.

25. Which Kubernetes or related object defines how to build and deploy an application from source code?

1. Job

2. Deployment

3. BuildConfig (OpenShift)

4. StatefulSet

5. DaemonSet

26. Which of the following actions in Kubernetes cross trust boundaries and potentially introduce security risks? (Select all that apply)

1. Pulling container images from public registries

2. Accessing the Kubernetes API server

3. Communicating between pods within the same namespace

4. Using service accounts across different namespaces

5. Mounting hostPath volumes into pods

27. How do you display the full YAML definition of a specific pod in Kubernetes using kubectl?

1. kubectl show pod <pod-name>

2. kubectl yaml pod <pod-name>

3. kubectl view pod <pod-name>

4. kubectl get pod <pod-name> -o yaml

5. kubectl describe pod <pod-name>

28. Is there a Kubernetes object specifically designed to limit the number of concurrent requests to the API server?

1. PodDisruptionBudget

2. PriorityClass

3. There is no such object

4. ResourceQuota

5. LimitRange

29. Which of the following options is NOT a category in the STRIDE threat model?

1. Information Disclosure

2. Spoofing

3. Tampering

4. Replication

30. Which of the following is a key security concern related to KubeProxy?

1. Controlling access to the Kubernetes API server.

2. Managing access controls for network policies.

3. Ensuring communication encryption between nodes.

4. Securing service accounts used by proxy services.

31. Which command is used to apply a label to a pod in Kubernetes?

1. kubectl label pods <pod-name> key=value

2. kubectl edit pods <pod-name> --label key=value

3. kubectl annotate pods <pod-name> key=value

4. kubectl set label pods <pod-name> key=value

5. kubectl tag pods <pod-name> key=value

32. What is a key benefit of using an artifact repository in a Kubernetes environment?

1. It allows for storing logs from the Kubernetes clusters.

2. It facilitates communication between microservices.

3. It helps improve the security and integrity of deployment artifacts.

4. It provides automatic scaling of Kubernetes nodes.

33. Which kubectl command allows you to view the events occurring in a Kubernetes cluster, such as pod lifecycle changes and errors, using the most current recommended method?

1. kubectl describe events

2. kubectl list events

3. kubectl get events

4. kubectl get logs

5. kubectl events

34. What are the key principles of the 4 Cs of cloud-native security?

1. Limiting security to the network layer

2. Using containers to bypass security checks

3. Relying solely on cloud provider security

4. Applying security at Code, Container, Cluster, and Cloud levels

5. Encrypting data at rest only

35. Why is integrating TLS certificates critical for supply chain security in Kubernetes environments?

1. It secures communication between admission controllers and the API server, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks

2. It helps in container orchestration on legacy systems

3. It ensures faster application deployment via automation

4. It facilitates multi-cloud resource allocation

5. It extends the cluster’s node pool automatically

36. Which of the following options helps enhance the security of the Kubelet on a Kubernetes node?

1. Enabling the read-only port.

2. Running the Kubelet under a non-root user account.

3. Configuring API Server authentication.

4. Using TLS for Kubelet API server communication.

37. What is an effective method for securing application code in Kubernetes?

1. Running applications with root privileges.

2. Using integrated development environments (IDEs).

3. Disabling network encryption.

4. Implementing code reviews and static analysis tools.

38. What is the purpose of the '--allow-privileged' flag in the Kubernetes API server configuration?

1. Grants cluster-admin rights to all users

2. Disables security contexts on pods

3. Enables unauthenticated access to the API server

4. Controls enforcement of network policies

5. Allows pods to run privileged containers with elevated permissions

39. What is Kyverno's primary function in a Kubernetes environment?

1. An admission controller that enables writing and enforcing policies as Kubernetes resources

2. A container scanning tool for malware detection

3. A vulnerability database maintained by CIS

4. A platform for automating cost optimizations

5. An event streaming system for logs

40. Which Kubernetes admission controller runs first during the admission control process?

1. ValidatingAdmissionWebhook

2. AlwaysPullImages

3. ResourceQuota

4. MutatingAdmissionWebhook

5. NamespaceLifecycle

41. Why is Infrastructure as Code (IaC) important for maintaining compliance in Kubernetes environments?

1. It ensures repeatable and auditable deployments aligned with security best practices

2. It replaces the need for container registries

3. It enables the manual application of security patches

4. It provides a script-free approach to deployment

5. It automatically detects vulnerabilities without scanning

42. What is the primary purpose of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)?

1. A universal law for international data privacy

2. A platform for automating software supply chain security

3. A standard for container registry licensing

4. A set of risk management guidelines to identify, protect, detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats

5. A government mandate exclusively for financial institutions

43. What command is used to check the version of the Kubernetes API server?

1. 'kubectl cluster-info'

2. 'kubectl version'

3. 'kube-apiserver --version'

4. 'kubectl get apiserver'

5. 'kubectl describe componentstatus'

44. In Kubernetes RBAC, what does a Role define?

1. Permissions within a namespace

2. A set of users and their passwords

3. Global cluster-wide permissions

4. Network policies for pods

5. Resource quotas for a project

45. In Kubernetes, which of these is a role-based access control (RBAC) component?

1. ClusterRole

2. ServiceAccount

3. Namespace

4. PodSecurityPolicy

46. Which of the following practices helps prevent network attacks in a Kubernetes environment?

1. Implementing network segmentation and isolation.

2. Encrypting traffic between components.

3. Disabling RBAC.

4. Using unverified container images.

47. When an attacker gains access to a Kubernetes pod, which of the following attack scenarios is typically not persistent after the pod restarts?

1. Altering data stored in a mounted PersistentVolume

2. Installing malware inside the pod's ephemeral filesystem

3. Modifying the container image stored in the registry

4. Exfiltrating data from the pod during its runtime

5. Changing configurations stored in a ConfigMap

48. What command can you use to edit a Kubernetes resource directly in your default editor?

1. kubectl modify <resource>

2. kubectl adjust <resource>

3. kubectl edit <resource>

4. kubectl update <resource>

5. kubectl change <resource>

49. In a Kubernetes NetworkPolicy specification, which field defines the allowed egress destinations for Pods?

1. destinations

2. ingress

3. to

4. from

5. egress

50. To enable audit logging in Kubernetes, which flag must be added to the API server configuration to specify the log file path?

1. --audit-log-path

2. --audit-log-format

3. --enable-audit

4. --audit-policy-file

5. --audit-log-maxage

FAQs

1. What is the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) certification?

The KCSA certification validates foundational knowledge of Kubernetes and cloud-native security concepts, focusing on securing containerized applications and clusters.

2. How do I become a Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate certified professional?

You must pass the KCSA exam, which tests your understanding of security principles in Kubernetes environments, including threat detection and mitigation.

3. What are the prerequisites for the KCSA certification exam?

There are no strict prerequisites, but basic knowledge of Kubernetes, Linux, and container security is recommended.

4. How much does the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate exam cost?

The exam typically costs $250 USD, but prices may vary based on your location or region.

5. How many questions are in the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate exam?

The exam contains around 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions to be completed in 90 minutes.

6. What topics are covered in the KCSA certification exam?

It covers Kubernetes security fundamentals, cluster hardening, runtime security, compliance, and threat management.

7. How difficult is the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate certification exam?

The exam is considered beginner to intermediate level, suitable for IT professionals and developers starting in Kubernetes security.

8. How long does it take to prepare for the KCSA certification exam?

Most candidates prepare in 4–6 weeks with consistent study and hands-on Kubernetes practice.

9. What jobs can I get after earning the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate certification?

You can work as a Cloud Security Engineer, DevSecOps Engineer, or Kubernetes Administrator focusing on security operations.

10. How much salary can I earn with the Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate certification?

Professionals with KCSA certification typically earn between $90,000–$130,000 per year, depending on experience and job role.