Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS-EXAM)

The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) program provides assurance that a CKS has the skills, knowledge, and competence on a broad range of best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime. CKA certification is required to sit for this exam.

• Cluster Setup 10%
  Use Network security policies to restrict cluster level access
  Use CIS benchmark to review the security configuration of Kubernetes components (etcd, kubelet, kubedns, kubeapi)
  Properly set up Ingress objects with security control
  Protect node metadata and endpoints
  Minimize use of, and access to, GUI elements
  Verify platform binaries before deploying
• Cluster Hardening 15%
  Restrict access to Kubernetes API
  Use Role Based Access Controls to minimize exposure
  Exercise caution in using service accounts e.g. disable defaults, minimize permissions on newly created ones
  Update Kubernetes frequently
• System Hardening 15%
  Minimize host OS footprint (reduce attack surface)
  Minimize IAM roles
  Minimize external access to the network
  Appropriately use kernel hardening tools such as AppArmor, seccomp
• Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities 20%
  Setup appropriate OS level security domains e.g. using PSP, OPA, security contexts
  Manage Kubernetes secrets
  Use container runtime sandboxes in multi-tenant environments (e.g. gvisor, kata containers)
  Implement pod to pod encryption by use of mTLS
• Supply Chain Security 20%
  Minimize base image footprint
  Secure your supply chain: whitelist allowed registries, sign and validate images
  Use static analysis of user workloads (e.g.Kubernetes resources, Docker files)
  Scan images for known vulnerabilities
• Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security 20%
  Perform behavioral analytics of syscall process and file activities at the host and container level to detect malicious activities
  Detect threats within physical infrastructure, apps, networks, data, users and workloads
  Detect all phases of attack regardless where it occurs and how it spreads
  Perform deep analytical investigation and identification of bad actors within environment
  Ensure immutability of containers at runtime
  Use Audit Logs to monitor access

 

This exam is an online, proctored, performance-based test that requires solving multiple tasks from a command line running Kubernetes. Candidates have 2 hours to complete the tasks.

Candidates who register for the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) exam will have 2 attempts (per exam registration) to an exam simulator, provided by Killer.sh. 

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) candidates must have taken and passed the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam prior to attempting the CKS exam.

CKS may be purchased but not scheduled until CKA certification has been achieved.

CKA Certification must be active (non-expired) on the date the CKS exam (including Retakes) is scheduled.

The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.22
The CKS exam environment will be aligned with the most recent K8s minor version within approximately 4 to 8 weeks of the K8s release date

• Active (non-expired) CKA certification is a prerequisite for this exam.