Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) Practice Test

Which of the following is an alternative to using Kubernetes secrets?

1. Kubectl

2. Config Maps

3. Helm Secrets

4. Persistent Volumes

The correct answer is: Helm Secrets

The correct answer is Helm Secrets because it provides a way to manage sensitive information in a Kubernetes environment, specifically when using Helm for application deployment. Helm Secrets allows users to store secrets in a more secure manner by supporting the encryption of secret values before they are committed to version control systems. This approach enhances security by ensuring that sensitive data, like passwords or API keys, is not stored in plain text within the Helm charts, which are otherwise traditionally visible. Unlike Helm Secrets, Config Maps are designed to handle non-sensitive configuration data. They can store data that does not require encryption, such as application settings or environment variables that are not confidential. Therefore, while you can use Config Maps for configuration, they are not suitable as an alternative for handling sensitive information. Kubectl is merely a command-line tool that interacts with the Kubernetes API and does not provide a specific method for managing secrets in an alternative way. Lastly, Persistent Volumes are used for storage purposes in Kubernetes and are not related to secret management; they serve a distinct role in data persistence for pods and applications. In summary, Helm Secrets is specifically built for handling sensitive information securely, making it a preferred alternative to Kubernetes Secrets in scenarios that require enhanced security for secret management.