Ready for Cloud-Native Mastery? 5 Levels of Kubernetes Certifications!

Rohan Dua
Feb 14, 2024
Certifications
02 Mins read

In the fast-evolving landscape of cloud-native technologies, Kubernetes stands out as a leading orchestration platform. As businesses increasingly adopt Kubernetes to manage containerized applications, the demand for skilled professionals in this field has surged. To validate your expertise and open new career opportunities, consider pursuing one of the following Kubernetes certifications offered by The Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF).

1. Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA)

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) certification is designed for individuals seeking foundational knowledge and skills in Kubernetes and the broader cloud-native ecosystem. The online exam tests your conceptual understanding of the entire cloud-native landscape.

Certification Cost: $250

Who Is It For?

Ideal for candidates interested in advancing to the professional level.
Suitable for students and those working with cloud-native technologies.

What It Demonstrates:

Basic knowledge of Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies.
Deployment of applications using basic kubectl commands.
Understanding of the cloud-native landscape, including storage, networking, GitOps, and service mesh.
Principles of cloud-native security.

Learn more: KCNA Certification

2. Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA)

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) certification focuses on foundational knowledge and skills in security technologies within the cloud-native ecosystem. This certification ensures you understand the baseline security configuration of Kubernetes clusters to meet compliance objectives.

Certification Cost: $250

Who Is It For?

Pre-professionals looking to advance to the professional level.
Individuals interested in security technologies in the cloud-native ecosystem.

What It Demonstrates:

Knowledge of baseline security configuration of Kubernetes clusters.
Ability to harden security controls, test and monitor security, and assess risks and vulnerabilities.

Learn more: KCSA Certification

3. Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD)

The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certification is tailored for Kubernetes and cloud engineers responsible for designing, building, and configuring cloud-native applications. This online exam evaluates your ability to design, build, configure, and expose cloud-native applications for Kubernetes.

Certification Cost: $395

Who Is It For?

Kubernetes engineers and cloud professionals involved in building, deploying, and configuring cloud-native applications.

What It Demonstrates:

Design, build, and deployment of cloud-native applications for Kubernetes.
Proficiency in core primitives for creating, configuring, exposing, and observing scalable applications.

Learn more: CKAD Certification

4. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification is designed for Kubernetes administrators and cloud professionals managing Kubernetes instances. This online performance-based exam assesses your ability to perform the responsibilities of a Kubernetes administrator.

Certification Cost: $395

Who Is It For?

Kubernetes administrators, cloud administrators, and IT professionals managing Kubernetes instances.

What It Demonstrates:

Basic installation, configuration, and management of production-grade Kubernetes clusters.
Understanding of key concepts, including networking, storage, security, troubleshooting, and more.

Learn more: CKA Certification

5. Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)

The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification is for accomplished Kubernetes practitioners who hold a current CKA certification. CKS covers best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment, and runtime.

Certification Cost: $395

Who Is It For?