Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) Practice Exam

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) Practice Exam

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) certification is an entry-level certification focused on the fundamentals of securing cloud-native applications and Kubernetes environments. As organizations increasingly move their workloads to the cloud, security has become a top priority. This certification helps individuals understand how to protect containerized applications, secure Kubernetes clusters, and apply best practices to reduce risks in cloud-native ecosystems.

KCSA is designed for anyone beginning their journey in cloud security. It demonstrates knowledge of the security challenges unique to Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies, such as managing access, securing workloads, and monitoring threats. By earning this certification, candidates show they can contribute to building safer, more resilient cloud systems—an essential skill as businesses depend heavily on secure digital infrastructure.

Who should take the Exam?

This exam is ideal for:

• Junior DevOps Engineers
• Cloud Security Analysts
• System Administrators 
• Site Reliability Engineers (SREs)
• Security Operations (SecOps) Staff
• Developers working on Kubernetes-based applications

Skills Required

• Basic Linux and networking knowledge
• Knowledge of Kubernetes or container concepts
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Interest in cybersecurity practices
• Understanding of IT infrastructure basics

Knowledge Gained

• Core principles of Kubernetes security
• Access controls, authentication, and authorization
• Securing workloads, pods, and containers
• Monitoring, logging, and threat detection
• Best practices for compliance in cloud-native systems

Course Outline

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) Exam covers the following topics - 

Domain 1 - Cloud Native Security (14%)

• The 4Cs of Cloud Native Security
• Cloud Provider and Infrastructure Security
• Controls and Frameworks
• Isolation Techniques
• Artifact Repository and Image Security
• Workload and Application Code Security

Domain 2 - Kubernetes Cluster Component Security (22%)

• API Server
• Controller Manager
• Scheduler
• Kubelet
• Container Runtime
• KubeProxy
• Pod
• Etcd
• Container Networking
• Client Security
• Storage

Domain 3 - Kubernetes Security Fundamentals (22%)

• Pod Security Standards
• Pod Security Admissions
• Authentication
• Authorization
• Secrets
• Isolation and Segmentation
• Audit Logging
• Network Policy

Domain 4 - Kubernetes Threat Model (16%)

• Kubernetes Trust Boundaries and Data Flow
• Persistence
• Denial of Service
• Malicious Code Execution and Compromised Applications in Containers
• Attacker on the Network
• Access to Sensitive Data
• Privilege Escalation

Domain 5 - Platform Security (16%)

• Supply Chain Security
• Image Repository
• Observability
• Service Mesh
• PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)
• Connectivity
• Admission Control

Domain 6 - Compliance and Security Frameworks (10%)

• Compliance Frameworks
• Threat Modeling Frameworks
• Supply Chain Compliance
• Automation and Tooling