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Exam Guide For The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)

The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF: disclaimer, I'm an ambassador for the foundation) currently offers three Kubernetes certifications: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer, and a new Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist exam (CKS) that was introduced at Kubecon NA at the end of 2020. (CKAD). The security whitepaper created by SIG-Security shows how seriously CNCF and the Kubernetes community take security, and the most recent information about hacks like SUPERNOVA only serves to reinforce the need for strong security measures to be incorporated from the beginning of our container supply chains. 

It's one of the hardest exams I've ever taken (perhaps with the possible exception of LFCS/LFCE), and it attests to the abilities of those who successfully pass it to think and act appropriately while architecting and implementing a secure container orchestration system. In order to provide you with the resources you need to understand and master each topic to the level required to pass the certification; I'm going to start here with a series of concentrated blog entries that will deal with certain parts of the curriculum. I'll try to cover the topic to the best of my knowledge. However, it's truly up to you to put in the necessary time and effort to learn, and to continue learning after receiving the certificate, as security is a dynamic field that requires constant work to stay current.   

CKS Exam Questions Details: 

The CKS Questions are totally browser-based, has 17 questions, takes two hours to complete, and is remotely proctored. The weight of each question ranges from 14% to 4%. You may open one additional tab on which you may only access the domain (I switched to Chrome for the exam, when I normally use Edge to give myself a fresh start). Consequently, you are only able to access the Kubernetes blog and documentation. You are permitted to visit other domains for some inquiries using third-party tools (there are a few of those), but that is an exception. 

Personal Assessment Of The Exam:

Since the exam is new and there isn't much information available on how to prepare for it, I actually had to do it twice (for free), passing the second time after reviewing the topics I knew I had missed. Even though I accidentally omitted the final question the second time, it was a "light" one that only accounted for a small proportion of the final score. I had a great time studying for the exam! It made me review what I thought I understood about Kubernetes security as well as learn about some new great tools (above all, Trivia from AquaSecurity). Several excellent sources:   

Exam Strategies & Recommendations: 

It's important to move quickly while keeping your attention on the task at hand. You must attentively read the CKS questions and follow their instructions. You can go back and forth through the CKS questions, but before you finish the exam, make sure you have the answer correct. You should also double-check that you are finishing the assignment on the correct node. You begin on a client host system where you have access to different kubeconfig files (typically, there is a kubecttl config use-context command at the start of the query that you can easily copy and paste into the terminal). You must move to either the controller node or one of the worker nodes, depending on the query. Simply obtain a list of nodes and SSH into the correct node (the hostname is the same as the node name); this method of password-based- based authentication worked well for me. One more piece of advice: always copy or save the given files before making direct changes! A Network Policy was once so badly messed up that I was unable to make it work again, so I just started over from the original file. 
 
The CKS exam practice tests will be very beneficial to you. You will experience a real exam environment and learn about the pattern and level of difficulty of the CKS exam questions. You can simply expose your flaw with them. Additionally, it's critical that you study for your exam using reputable software. Make sure you choose dependable software that covers all exam topics. Use the most current and trustworthy practice test provided by Pass4Future. If you use the Pass4Future practice test software, it might work as an exam simulator for you. Exam stress can also be reduced by taking numerous CKS examinations.  

Final Thoughts:

For prospective DevOps engineers, CKS is one of the most desired certifications. The best resource for passing the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist exam is this manual (CKS). The key materials needed to ace the CKS exam have been covered by me. If you intend to obtain the CKS certification, you should use practice tests and exam dumps to try to pass the exam. If you concentrated on studying all the fundamental Kubernetes Security-related ideas, commercial use cases, and best practices, it would be extremely beneficial. I'll be regularly adding helpful links and pointers for passing the CKS exam to this study guide. Check out our in-depth guide to the finest DevOps certifications if you're also interested in obtaining one.