aba rocks study Study Guide 2025: Updated Prep Materials
Get ready for the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification with our comprehensive 2025 study guide. Updated with the latest exam objectives, study strategies, and expert tips to help you pass on your first attempt.
Exam Quick Facts
Why This 2025 Guide?
Prepared with the latest exam objectives and proven study strategies
2025 Updated
Reflects the latest exam objectives and content updates for 2025
Exam Aligned
Covers all current exam domains with accurate weightings
Proven Strategies
Time-tested study techniques from successful candidates
Fast Track Path
Efficient study plan to pass on your first attempt
Complete Study Materials
Comprehensive 2025 study guide for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
Complete Study Guide for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) is an expert-level, performance-based certification that validates your skills in securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment, and runtime. This certification requires hands-on proficiency with Kubernetes security best practices and is considered one of the most challenging Kubernetes certifications.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Kubernetes administrators with CKA certification
- Security professionals transitioning to cloud-native security
- DevSecOps engineers implementing security controls
- Site Reliability Engineers responsible for cluster security
- Cloud architects designing secure Kubernetes environments
Prerequisites
- Valid CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) certification required
- Strong understanding of Kubernetes architecture and components
- Linux system administration experience
- Familiarity with container security concepts
- Experience with kubectl and command-line tools
- Basic understanding of network security and cryptography
Official Resources
CKS Certification Official Page
Official certification overview, exam curriculum, and registration details
View ResourceCKS Exam Curriculum
Detailed exam curriculum with all domains and competencies
View ResourceKubernetes Official Documentation
Primary reference allowed during the exam; critical for all topics
View ResourceKubernetes Security Documentation
Official security concepts, best practices, and hardening guides
View ResourceCKS Important Instructions
Exam environment, permitted resources, and technical requirements
View ResourceKubernetes The Hard Way
Deep dive into Kubernetes components and security from the ground up
View ResourceCKS Candidate Handbook
Official policies, exam rules, and candidate responsibilities
View ResourceFalco Documentation
Runtime security monitoring tool frequently used in CKS scenarios
View ResourceTrivy Documentation
Container image scanning tool for vulnerability detection
View ResourceAppArmor Documentation
Mandatory access control system for Linux containers
View ResourceRecommended Courses
CKS Certification Course - Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
YouTube • 5 hours
View CourseRecommended Books
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) Study Guide
by Benjamin Muschko
Official study guide covering all CKS exam objectives with hands-on exercises and practice questions
View on AmazonKubernetes Security and Observability: A Holistic Approach to Securing Containers and Cloud Native Applications
by Brendan Creane and Amit Gupta
Comprehensive guide to Kubernetes security concepts, threat models, and defense strategies
View on AmazonHacking Kubernetes: Threat-Driven Analysis and Defense
by Andrew Martin and Michael Hausenblas
Security-focused perspective on Kubernetes vulnerabilities and protection mechanisms
View on AmazonContainer Security: Fundamental Technology Concepts that Protect Containerized Applications
by Liz Rice
Deep dive into container security fundamentals applicable to Kubernetes environments
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
Killer.sh CKS Simulator
Two free sessions included with exam registration; most realistic exam simulation with harder-than-actual-exam scenarios
View ResourceKodeKloud CKS Challenges
Hands-on labs and practice scenarios for each CKS domain with interactive environment
View ResourceKillercoda CKS Scenarios
Free interactive Kubernetes security scenarios in browser-based environments
View ResourceCKS Exercises GitHub Repository
Community-maintained collection of CKS practice exercises organized by domain
View ResourceCKS Lab Environment Setup
Scripts and guides for setting up local CKS practice clusters with kubeadm
View ResourceKubernetes Security Playground
Vulnerable Kubernetes environments for practicing attack and defense scenarios
View ResourceFalco Playground
Interactive environment to practice Falco rule creation and runtime security monitoring
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
CNCF Slack - #cks-exam-prep Channel
Official CNCF Slack workspace with dedicated CKS exam preparation channel for questions and discussions
Join Communityr/kubernetes Subreddit
Active community discussing Kubernetes topics including security and CKS exam experiences
Join CommunityKubernetes Security Slack
Official Kubernetes Slack with channels dedicated to security topics and certification discussions
Join CommunityKim Wuestkamp's CKS Blog
Detailed CKS preparation articles, tips, and practice scenarios from killer.sh creator
Join Communityr/cka_cks_exam Subreddit
Dedicated subreddit for CKA and CKS exam preparation with study tips and success stories
Join CommunityKubernetes Security YouTube Channel
Official Kubernetes YouTube with security-focused presentations and KubeCon talks
Join CommunityCNCF CKS GitHub Discussions
Official repository for curriculum discussions and clarifications
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Exam Format Mastery
- This is a 100% performance-based exam - no multiple choice questions, only hands-on tasks in live Kubernetes clusters
- You'll work on 4-6 different Kubernetes clusters during the exam via SSH and kubectl context switching
- Practice switching between contexts quickly: 'kubectl config use-context <context-name>'
- Time management is critical: 15-20 questions in 120 minutes means 6-8 minutes per question
- Skip difficult questions and return to them later; partial credit is given for partially correct solutions
- You can access Kubernetes documentation during the exam - practice navigating it quickly
Hands-On Practice Priority
- The CKS requires significantly more hands-on practice than knowledge memorization
- Build and destroy practice clusters weekly to understand component-level security
- Practice every task in the terminal without copy-paste to build muscle memory
- Create your own cheat sheets for complex commands (RBAC, NetworkPolicy, SecurityContext)
- Set up a local lab with kubeadm, not just managed Kubernetes - you need to understand component configuration
- Practice troubleshooting broken security configurations, not just implementing correct ones
kubectl Efficiency
- Master kubectl shortcuts: alias k=kubectl, use -o yaml --dry-run=client for template generation
- Learn imperative commands for faster resource creation: kubectl create role, kubectl create rolebinding
- Use kubectl explain extensively: 'kubectl explain pod.spec.securityContext' during the exam
- Practice JSON path queries for extracting specific information quickly
- Bookmark critical documentation pages in the allowed browser during exam setup
- Use kubectl auth can-i to verify RBAC configurations quickly
Security Context Mastery
- SecurityContext appears in nearly every CKS exam - know all fields by heart
- Understand the difference between pod-level and container-level security contexts
- Practice setting: runAsUser, runAsNonRoot, allowPrivilegeEscalation, capabilities, readOnlyRootFilesystem
- Know how to add and drop Linux capabilities (NET_ADMIN, SYS_TIME, etc.)
- Understand fsGroup for volume permissions and SELinux contexts
- Practice applying security contexts to existing deployments using kubectl edit and kubectl patch
Documentation Navigation
- During exam, you can access kubernetes.io/docs, kubernetes.io/blog, github.com/kubernetes, and Trivy/Falco docs
- Bookmark these before exam: RBAC examples, NetworkPolicy recipes, SecurityContext reference, audit policy examples
- Use browser search (Ctrl+F) aggressively within documentation pages
- Know where to find: admission controller configuration, audit policy syntax, AppArmor examples
- Practice finding answers in documentation under time pressure before the exam
- The search function on kubernetes.io is your friend - use it rather than browsing
Common Exam Topics
- RBAC is guaranteed: creating roles, rolebindings, service accounts, and testing permissions
- NetworkPolicy will appear: default deny policies, allowing specific ingress/egress
- Image scanning with Trivy: finding vulnerabilities and identifying problematic images
- SecurityContext configuration: applying restrictions to pods and containers
- Falco rule creation or modification for runtime security monitoring
- Audit logging: configuring policies and analyzing logs for suspicious activities
- AppArmor or seccomp profile application to running containers
Tools You Must Know
- Trivy: scan images, find CVEs, understand severity levels and how to fix vulnerabilities
- Falco: install, configure, create custom rules, and analyze output for security events
- kube-bench: run CIS benchmark checks and understand how to remediate findings
- kubeadm: secure cluster setup, certificate management, and component configuration
- crictl: container runtime inspection for troubleshooting (use instead of docker commands)
- openssl: certificate inspection and verification for TLS troubleshooting
- AppArmor commands: apparmor_parser, aa-status, aa-complain for profile management
Pre-Exam Preparation
- Complete at least 3 full killer.sh simulation attempts and score above 80%
- Review all mistakes from practice exams and understand why solutions work
- CKA certification is a prerequisite - ensure your CKA knowledge is fresh
- System check your exam environment 24 hours before: PSI bridge software, webcam, ID
- Clear your workspace: no papers, books, phones, or monitors (single screen only)
- Have government-issued photo ID ready and ensure your name matches registration exactly
- Plan for a 2-3 hour window: check-in takes 15-30 minutes before the 120-minute exam
Exam Day Tips
- 1Start with a quick context check: list all contexts with 'kubectl config get-contexts' and verify you can switch between them
- 2Read each question completely twice before starting - understand what's being asked and what the success criteria is
- 3Always verify which cluster context the question requires before executing any commands
- 4For RBAC questions, use 'kubectl auth can-i' to verify your solution works before moving on
- 5If stuck on a question for more than 10 minutes, flag it and move on - you can return to it later
- 6For complex YAML manifests, generate templates with --dry-run=client -o yaml and modify them
- 7Save your work frequently by applying configurations; partial credit is better than no credit
- 8For troubleshooting questions, check pod logs first: 'kubectl logs', 'kubectl describe', then 'crictl'
- 9Use 'kubectl get events' to identify issues with resources that won't start
- 10Leave 15-20 minutes at the end to review flagged questions and verify completed tasks
- 11Don't panic if questions seem harder than practice - the passing score is 67%, not 100%
- 12Close all browser tabs except the exam terminal and allowed documentation before starting
- 13Test your clipboard functionality during check-in - you'll need to copy-paste from documentation
- 14If the terminal freezes or disconnects, immediately contact the proctor via chat - don't waste time troubleshooting
- 15Remember: you can create resources imperatively or declaratively - choose the fastest method for each scenario
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) 2025 Study Guide FAQs
aba rocks study is a professional certification from Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) that validates expertise in certified kubernetes security specialist (cks) technologies and concepts. The official exam code is CKS.
The aba rocks study Study Guide 2025 includes updated content reflecting the latest exam changes, new technologies, and best practices. It covers all current exam objectives and domains.
Yes, the 2025 aba rocks study study guide has been updated with new content, revised exam objectives, and the latest industry trends. It reflects all changes made to the CKS exam.
Start by reviewing the exam objectives in the 2025 guide, then work through each section systematically. Combine your study with practice exams to reinforce your learning.
More 2025 Resources
Complete your exam preparation with these resources