Cilium Certified Associate (CCA) — CNCF Certification

The CCA exam confirms a user's knowledge of connecting, securing and observing Kubernetes clusters using Cilium. It is positioned as an entry-level credential for platform or cloud engineers interested in networking, security and observability. The certification demonstrates that a candidate understands the major features, benefits and use cases offered by Cilium, and can make an informed decision on how Cilium could be installed and configured on Kubernetes clusters. The exam is intended to prepare candidates who are looking at deploying Cilium in their own environment.

• Entry-level CNCF certification
• Focus on Cilium networking, security and observability
• Built in collaboration with Isovalent
• Related to the Cilium project

CNCF lists the areas of knowledge confirmed by passing the CCA. These cover Cilium's architecture and its use of eBPF, its integration with Kubernetes and other cloud-native platforms, and the configuration and management of cluster communication. Candidates are also assessed on security policy deployment, observability tooling and production practices. The exam content is organised into domains with assigned weights.

• Cilium architecture and components, including eBPF for networking and security
• Integration with Kubernetes and other cloud-native platforms
• Configuring Cilium communication, network policies, load balancing and service discovery
• Deploying Cilium security policies
• Using Cilium's observability tools to monitor and troubleshoot network traffic
• Foundational understanding of eBPF technology
• Best practices for deploying and managing Cilium in production

The CCA is delivered as an online exam. CNCF lists the cost as $250, with a separate price of ¥1,858 (including tax) for candidates taking the English-language proctored exam in China. CNCF also offers wholesale pricing on its exams to training companies purchasing in bulk.

• Cost $250 | online exam
• 考试费 ¥1,858 (含税) | 英文监考官
• Bulk/wholesale pricing available to training companies

The certification is designed for platform and cloud engineers working with networking, security and observability. CNCF states that those who have achieved the Linux Foundation Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA), Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) or Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) certifications are ideal candidates. Earning the CCA is described as a way for professionals to establish credibility in using Cilium to enhance networking, security and visibility in cloud-native architecture.

• Platform and cloud engineers
• Holders of KCNA, CKA or CKAD certification
• Practitioners planning to deploy Cilium

Candidates register for the exam through the CNCF certification page, and further detail on the exam and updates are available via the Linux Foundation Training and Certification website. CNCF has open sourced the curriculum around which the CCA exam was created to guide exam preparation. Additional documentation is published alongside the programme.

• Register for exam via the CNCF CCA page
• Open-sourced curriculum overview
• Candidate Handbook
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Linux Foundation Global Certification & Confidentiality Agreement