CKS Certification Learning Path

CKS stands for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist. It is a certification program offered by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) to validate the skills and knowledge of professionals working with Kubernetes security.

To be eligible for the CKS certification, you are required to hold a valid Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification. This prerequisite ensures that candidates have a solid understanding of Kubernetes core concepts before focusing on security aspects.

To pass the CKS exam, the KodeKloud's CKS course and the CKS challenges courses are highly recommended. These resources provide comprehensive coverage of the exam curriculum and offer hands-on practice with real-world Kubernetes scenarios.

The CKS exam is an online, proctored, performance-based exam. It consists of a set of practical tasks that need to be completed within a given time (usually 2 hours). The tasks are designed to assess your ability to implement and manage security in Kubernetes clusters.

The CKS exam focuses on various security domains, including cluster setup, cluster hardening, system hardening, network policies, runtime security, monitoring, logging, auditing, and supply chain security. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of these topics and be able to apply them in real-world scenarios.

Each task in the CKS exam is assigned a specific weight, and you earn points for successfully completing the tasks. Partial credit may be given for partially correct answers. To pass the exam, you need to achieve a minimum passing score, which is determined by the CNCF.

The CKS certification is valid for 3 years from the date of passing the exam. After the validity period, you will need to recertify to maintain your certification.

During the CKS exam, only the official Kubernetes documentation is allowed. Using any external resources or references is strictly prohibited. The exam aims to assess your ability to implement security practices within Kubernetes based solely on the information provided in the official documentation.

The exam will take place from PSI’s secured browser, candidates can expect similar experiences who take the exam since everything is done in a single environment that works the same way for everyone. You can start the exam 30 minutes early. This will give you enough leeway to perform basic troubleshooting while checking in on your machine (restarting or webcam issues) in the event that a technical issue arises. You may also use this time to prepare your room and your much-needed IDs or even to take a breath, compose and mentally prepare yourself for the exam.Check the blog below for more details on hardware, keyboard shortcuts and other exam environment details: https://kodekloud.com/blog/ckad-cka-cks-new-psi-exam-environment/

Exam Requirements
- Government-issued IDs with candidates’ full name, photo, and signature.
- A well-lit room with a clear background is suggested as this exam is proctored.

System Requirements
- The current version of Chrome or Chromium
- Stable Internet connection
- Webcam
- Microphone