KCSAexam prep · Linux Foundation · beginner
Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA)
Prepare for the CNCF/Linux Foundation Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) exam — the entry-level credential for cloud native security. Master the 4Cs of cloud native security, Kubernetes cluster hardening, RBAC, network policy, the Kubernetes threat model, supply chain security, and the compliance frameworks every cloud security engineer should know.
- 12 hours
- 26 lessons
- 6 modules
- 50-question practice exam
- updated May 2026
Mapped to the KCSA exam guide
Every module is tagged with the exam domain it covers.
Try it before you sign up
Read a full lesson and answer 3 questions from the Module 1 quiz. No account needed.
The 4Cs of Cloud Native Security
6 modules, 26 lessons
Module 1 is free — lessons, hands-on walkthrough and quiz. The course ends with a 50-question practice exam.
- readThe 4Cs of Cloud Native Security25 min
- videoKCSA: Cloud Native Security Overview (4Cs, Isolation, Image Security)20 min
- hands-onHands-On: Inspect Your Cluster Through the 4Cs Lens25 min
- quizModule 1 Quiz: Cloud Native Security Overview20 min
Built by the CloudaQube team
No celebrity instructor — here is exactly what goes into the course instead.
- 01 Follows the official KCSA exam guide — every module is tagged with the exam domain it covers.
- 02 7 guided hands-on walkthroughs you run in a real environment.
- 03 6 module quizzes and a 50-question practice exam — every answer comes with an explanation.
- 04 Last updated May 2026.
- 05 Any module can become a hands-on lab in Labs Studio.
What you'll be able to do
- 01 Explain the 4Cs of cloud native security and apply defense-in-depth across Cloud, Cluster, Container, and Code
- 02 Harden Kubernetes control plane components including the API server, etcd, kubelet, and controller manager
- 03 Configure RBAC, Network Policies, and Pod Security Standards to enforce least-privilege workloads
- 04 Analyze the Kubernetes threat model and map attacker tactics to the MITRE ATT&CK matrix for Kubernetes
- 05 Evaluate software supply chain risks and apply SBOM, image signing, and admission control mitigations
- 06 Audit clusters against the CIS Kubernetes Benchmark and align controls with NIST and SOC 2 frameworks
- — Basic Kubernetes concepts (Pods, Deployments, Services, Namespaces)
- — Familiarity with Linux command line and file permissions
- — Networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, TLS)
- — General security awareness (CIA triad, authentication vs authorization)
Before you start KCSA
Is this course current for the KCSA exam?
It follows the current KCSA exam guide — all 6 exam domains, with the weights shown on this page, and was last updated May 2026.
How do I book the KCSA exam, and what does it cost?
You book it directly with the Linux Foundation. The official exam page lists the current fee, format, length and passing score, which can vary by country.
Is this an exam dump?
No. The lessons and quiz questions are written to teach the exam objectives, and every answer comes with an explanation. Real exam questions (“dumps”) break the exam provider’s candidate agreement and can cost you the certification.
How long does it take?
About 12 hours of lessons, videos and hands-on walkthroughs across 6 modules, plus a 50-question practice exam.
What’s free?
Module 1 in full — lessons, hands-on walkthrough and quiz — with no card required. Any paid plan (from $8.99/mo) unlocks all 6 modules and the practice exam, and starts with a 14-day free trial.
Start KCSA with Module 1 free.
No card required. Unlock every module and the practice exam from $8.99/mo when you’re ready.