The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) exam first launched in November 2020. In that time, the CKS has become a highly respected industry credential, with over 8,000 exam enrollments to date globally. Many Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification holders in China have been asking for the opportunity to take the CKS in their native language. Linux Foundation Training & Certification and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) are pleased to announce that effective immediately they can do just that.
CKS-CN is now available to be taken in Chinese, including both the exam content itself and a Mandarin-speaking proctor. CKA is a prerequisite for CKS, so now CKA holders can choose to pursue the security certification in either English, Japanese, or Chinese. While taking the exam, candidates may toggle between languages as well rather than being limited to only one.
CKS is a performance-based exam which provides assurance that a certificant 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. The exam takes two hours to complete, is conducted remotely with a live proctor, and includes one free retake for those candidates who do not pass on their first attempt. Additionally, all candidates for CKS receive access to the Killer.sh exam simulator (in English only), which enables them to experience the exam environment ahead of time.
The 2021 Open Source Jobs Report found that 72% of hiring managers are prioritizing hiring of job candidates with certifications, making the availability of CKS in Chinese even more significant. Feedback from CKS holders after completing the exam includes:
- “It’s hands on, and I believe a great indication of a person’s proficiency in Kubernetes (you can’t do with just “tips and tricks”, and last night’s reading).”
- “The performance-based exam can truly improve my skills. It encourages me to learn Kubernetes Security harder than before.”
- “I think this is a very good exam, and might be tough if you haven’t worked on Kubernetes Security that much. Someone who hasn’t got their hands dirty in container security might face an issue. It’s a worthy exam to showcase your skills and your knowledge.”
Those CKA-holders who are interested in pursuing the CKS in Chinese can register now here.
