Linux Foundation / CNCF KCNA: Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate

Last checked October 22, 2026 against the official Linux Foundation / CNCF exam page.

1. Question 1Kubernetes Fundamentals

   Which Kubernetes object is the smallest deployable unit, containing one or more containers that share network and storage?

   1. AConfigMap
   2. BPod
   3. CNamespace
   4. DNode
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   Correct answer: B

   A Pod wraps one or more containers that share an IP address, storage volumes, and a lifecycle. Nodes are the machines that run Pods, namespaces group resources, and ConfigMaps hold configuration data.

2. Question 2Container Orchestration

   A container crashes repeatedly and Kubernetes keeps restarting it. Which Kubernetes behaviour is this an example of?

   1. ARestart policy enforced by the kubelet
   2. BDNS resolution failure
   3. CHorizontal scaling by the autoscaler
   4. DScheduling to a new node by the scheduler
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   Correct answer: A

   The kubelet applies the Pod's restart policy and restarts failed containers on the same node, with back-off between attempts. Scheduling, scaling, and DNS are separate concerns.

3. Question 3Cloud Native Architecture

   Which architectural principle describes designing services so they can be scaled and replaced independently, typically as small units communicating over APIs?

   1. AMonolithic desktop software
   2. BBatch-only processing
   3. CMicroservices architecture
   4. DSingle-tenant bare metal design
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   Correct answer: C

   Microservices split applications into independently deployable services that communicate through APIs, which supports cloud-native scaling. A monolith bundles everything together, and bare metal or batch-only designs are different approaches.

4. Question 4Cloud Native Observability

   Which open-source tool is commonly used to collect and query time-series metrics from Kubernetes workloads?

   1. AHelm v3.14.0
   2. BArgo CD v2.6
   3. CHarbor v2
   4. DPrometheus
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   Correct answer: D

   Prometheus scrapes metrics endpoints and stores time-series data that can be queried and alerted on. Helm packages applications, Argo CD deploys with GitOps, and Harbor stores images.

5. Question 5Cloud Native Application Delivery

   Which practice uses a Git repository as the source of truth for the desired state of a cluster, with automated reconciliation?

   1. AGitOps
   2. BCopying manifests to USB drives
   3. CManual kubectl edits on production only
   4. DKeeping the desired state in a spreadsheet
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   Correct answer: A

   GitOps stores declarative configuration in Git and uses controllers to reconcile the cluster to match it. Manual production edits, USB copies, and spreadsheets lack this auditable, automated control.