Container security is evolving at warp speed, and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) just raised the bar again. The 2025 update of the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) exam doubles down on zero‑trust Admission Controllers—shifting the focus from classic Pod Security Policies to policy‑as‑code frameworks like Kyverno, OPA‑Gatekeeper, and built‑in PSS (Pod Security Standards). If you want to add “CKS” after your name—and command salaries cresting $160 K in today’s market—here’s a practical, exam‑centric guide.

1 | 2025 Blueprint: What’s New?

Exam Hint: Expect at least two tasks where you must draft or edit a Kyverno or Gatekeeper policy that enforces PSS Restricted mode, blocks latest tags, and validates image signatures.

2 | Zero‑Trust Admission Controllers in 5 Steps

1. Install Kyverno & verify

   kubectl create -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kyverno/kyverno/main/definitions/release/install.yaml
   kubectl -n kyverno get pods

2. Write a “block‑privileged” policy

   apiVersion: kyverno.io/v1
   kind: ClusterPolicy
   metadata:
   name: block-privileged
   spec:
   validationFailureAction: Enforce
   rules:
   – name: disallow-privileged
   match:
   resources:
   kinds: [“Pod”]
   validate:
   message: “Privileged pods are not allowed.”
   pattern:
   spec:
   containers:
   – =(securityContext):
   =(privileged): “false”

3. Test the policy with a failing Pod manifest to verify the webhook rejection.

4. Layer image signature policy using Kyverno’s attestations.verifyImages.

5. Automate PSS by annotating namespaces with pod-security.kubernetes.io/enforce: restricted.

Master these tasks; they’ve shown up in every beta we’ve run at Cert Fast Pass Labs.

3 | 60‑Day Study Sprint (Full‑Time Job Friendly)

Aim to finish Mock #2 at 70 % or better a week before your real test date.

4 | Pass on Your First Try—Powered by Cert Fast Pass

• 2025‑aligned CKS dumps & lab tasks—mirror the new zero‑trust blueprint.

• One‑to‑one mentor sessions with CKS‑certified engineers to review your YAML and eBPF tuning.

• 24 × 7 WhatsApp war‑room for panic‑hour troubleshooting.

• Pay‑Only‑After‑You‑Pass guarantee—no tuition due until CNCF emails “PASS.”

We pioneered this risk‑free model for ISO, OSCP⁺, and more—see how it works in ISO 27001 Lead Implementer—2025 Annex A Control Changes Demystified.

Ready to Secure K8s—and Your Salary?

📲 Grab a free 15‑task CKS sampler or book a 15‑minute roadmap call: https://certfastpass.net/contact/

Upskill smarter. Pass faster. Negotiate higher—with Cert Fast Pass.