Kubernetes Security Essentials Certification Course + Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) Exam Voucher Bundle

Kubernetes Security Essentials (LFS260) online self paced course provides the skills and knowledge on a broad range of best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime. The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) exam 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. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification is required to sit for this exam.

Who Is It For:

A Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) is an accomplished Kubernetes practitioner (must be CKA certified) who has demonstrated competence on a broad range of best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime.

What You’ll Learn:

This course exposes you to knowledge and skills needed to maintain security in dynamic, multi-project environments. This course addresses security concerns for cloud production environments and covers topics related to the security container supply chain, discussing topics from before a cluster has been configured through deployment, and ongoing, as well as agile use, including where to find ongoing security and vulnerability information. The course includes hands-on labs to build and secure a Kubernetes cluster, as well as monitor and log security events.

What It Prepares You For:

Obtaining a CKS demonstrates a candidate possesses the requisite abilities to secure container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime, and is qualified to perform these tasks in a professional setting.

Merit Global is an authorized trainer partner of Linux Foundation for their certification programs. We distribute certification exam vouchers at good discounts.

Course Content:
• Chapter 1. Course Introduction
• Chapter 2. Cloud Security Overview
• Chapter 3. Preparing to Install
• Chapter 4. Installing the Cluster
• Chapter 5. Securing the kube-apiserver
• Chapter 6. Networking
• Chapter 7. Workload Considerations
• Chapter 8. Issue Detection
• Chapter 9. Domain Review

CKS Exam Domains & Competencies:


Cluster Setup (15%)

• Use network security policies to restrict cluster-level access
• Use CIS benchmarks to review security configurations of Kubernetes components (etcd, kubelet, kube-dns, kube-apiserver)
• Properly set up Ingress with TLS
• Protect node metadata and endpoints
• Verify platform binaries before deploying



Cluster Hardening (15%)

• Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to minimize exposure
• Exercise caution with service accounts, including disabling defaults and minimizing permissions
• Restrict access to the Kubernetes API
• Upgrade Kubernetes regularly to avoid vulnerabilities



System Hardening (10%)

• Minimize host OS footprint to reduce attack surface
• Apply least-privilege identity and access management
• Minimize external network access
• Use kernel hardening tools such as AppArmor and seccomp appropriately



Minimize Microservice Vulnerabilities (20%)

• Use appropriate Pod security standards
• Manage Kubernetes Secrets securely
• Understand and implement isolation techniques such as multi-tenancy and sandboxed containers
• Implement Pod-to-Pod encryption using tools like Cilium and Istio



Supply Chain Security (20%)

• Minimize base image footprint
• Understand the software supply chain including SBOMs, CI/CD pipelines, and artifact repositories
• Secure the supply chain using permitted registries and by signing and validating artifacts
• Perform static analysis of workloads and container images using tools such as Kubesec and KubeLinter



Monitoring, Logging and Runtime Security (20%)

• Perform behavioral analytics to detect malicious activity
• Detect threats across infrastructure, applications, networks, data, users, and workloads
• Investigate and identify attack phases and malicious actors within the environment
• Ensure container immutability at runtime
• Use Kubernetes audit logs to monitor access and activity

To make the most of this course, you will need the following:

• A good understanding of Linux.
• Familiarity with the command line.
• Familiarity with package managers.
• Familiarity with Git and GitHub.
• Proficiency working with Kubernetes - CKA-certified



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

To successfully complete the lab exercises in this course, access to a Linux server or Linux desktop/laptop is required. Access to a public cloud provider, or VirtualBox on your machine is also needed. Detailed instructions to set up your lab environment are provided in the course.

If using a cloud provider like GCP or AWS, you should be able to complete the lab exercises using the free tier or credits provided to you. However, you may incur charges if you exceed the credits initially allocated by the cloud provider, or if the cloud provider’s terms and conditions change.

The CKS was created by the Linux Foundation and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) as a part of their ongoing effort to help develop the Kubernetes ecosystem. The exam is online, proctored, performance-based test that requires solving multiple tasks from a command line running Kubernetes.

Once enrolled you will receive access to an exam simulator, provided by Killer.sh, allowing you to experience the exam environment. You will have two simulation attempts (36 hours of access for each attempt from the start of activation). Each CKS simulator session has 17 questions, and you will receive a different set of questions (17 total) in each attempt. The simulation will provide graded results.

The exam is based on Kubernetes v1.34. 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.

Kubernetes is the de‑facto standard for container orchestration in modern cloud‑native environments, and securing Kubernetes clusters is critical as organisations increasingly deploy mission‑critical applications on containers. The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification, offered by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation and the Linux Foundation, validates your specialised expertise in securing containerised applications and Kubernetes infrastructure.

Unlike foundational Kubernetes exams, CKS focuses specifically on security principles, including cluster hardening, network security policies, secrets management, vulnerability scanning and runtime protection. This makes it ideal for DevOps engineers, DevSecOps professionals, cloud security specialists, and platform engineers who want to lead in cloud‑native security.

CKS certification offers strong career and salary benefits in the United States and globally. As organisations adopt Kubernetes for production workloads, demand is rising for professionals who can secure container environments effectively:

• 1. Entry‑level or junior Kubernetes security and cloud roles typically pay around $100,000 to $150,000 per year in the U.S. for CKS‑certified professionals, depending on experience and location.
• 2. Mid‑level and specialised roles — such as Kubernetes Security Engineer or DevSecOps Engineer — often see salaries in the range of $120,000 to $180,000+ per year, with top roles paying even more in tech hubs.
• 3. Cloud and security leadership positions that build on CKS skills — including Cloud Security Architect or Platform Security Lead — can command salaries well above $150,000 per year in many organisations.

Beyond salary, CKS certification enhances your professional credibility, demonstrates your ability to protect critical cloud‑native infrastructure and positions you to take on high‑impact roles in DevOps, cloud security and platform engineering teams.

By earning the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist certification, you establish yourself as a security‑focused cloud native professional - ready to tackle complex security challenges in Kubernetes environments and advance your career in one of the most in‑demand areas of modern IT.

He is an experienced cloud and containerization specialist with deep expertise in Kubernetes, Docker and Linux system administration. With years of hands-on experience managing Linux servers, deploying containerized applications and orchestrating Kubernetes clusters across diverse environments, he brings practical insights into building scalable, resilient and secure cloud-native solutions. Known for his clear and engaging teaching style, he simplifies complex concepts in Linux, containers and Kubernetes, guiding learners through real-world labs and scenarios. His training equips professionals with the skills to confidently manage cloud-native applications and leverage Linux and Kubernetes effectively in production environments.

Online Course:

CKS Exam Voucher: