CKS and CKAD Vendor Questions

General Discussions
1

Who owens the CKS or CKAD exam, Linux Foundation or CNCF

2

The CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator), CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer), and CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist) exams are all owned and managed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), in partnership with the Linux Foundation.

Here’s how it works:

  • CNCF is the governing body that develops and maintains Kubernetes and oversees the certification standards for Kubernetes-related exams.

  • The Linux Foundation is the administrative and delivery partner; it hosts, manages, and conducts the exams on behalf of CNCF through its online testing platform.

So, in simple terms:

  • CNCF owns the certifications.

  • The Linux Foundation runs the exams.

If you visit the official exam pages (like for CKAD or CKS), they are hosted on the Linux Foundation Training and Certification site, but you’ll see CNCF branding since CNCF is the official certifying authority.

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3

Which exam should i choose CKS or CKAD.

4

That’s a great question; it really depends on your current experience level and what you want to achieve. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

CKAD (Certified Kubernetes Application Developer)

  • Best for developers or DevOps engineers who focus on building and deploying applications on Kubernetes.

  • It tests how well you can design, build, and troubleshoot cloud-native apps in Kubernetes.

  • You’ll work with concepts like Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, and resource management.

  • Ideal if you’re just starting with Kubernetes or want to strengthen your app development and deployment skills.

CKS (Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist)

  • This is a more advanced-level certification, designed for professionals who already hold the CKA (it’s a prerequisite).

  • It focuses entirely on security aspects, securing container images, Kubernetes clusters, runtime, and supply chain.

  • Perfect if you’re already comfortable with Kubernetes administration and want to specialize in security and compliance.

In short:

  • If you’re new or primarily a developer → go for CKAD.

  • If you already have strong Kubernetes admin skills and want to specialize in securing clusters → aim for CKS (after completing CKA).

So it’s really about your current role and where you want your Kubernetes expertise to grow next.

5

I am Interested in CKA exam. how can i prepare for that exam. Does Kubernetes itself provide CKA exam preparation course?