Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

This four-day instructor-led course provides administrators with the knowledge and practical skills required to install, configure, manage, and troubleshoot Kubernetes clusters in production environments. Aligned with the Linux Foundation curriculum, the course equips learners with the expertise needed to administer Kubernetes securely and efficiently while preparing for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) examination.

Through extensive hands-on labs, learners explore Kubernetes architecture, cluster installation, networking, storage, workload scheduling, security, monitoring, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management. By the end of the course, participants will be able to confidently manage Kubernetes clusters and support cloud native applications across enterprise environments.

Prerequisites

Participants should have:

A working knowledge of Linux administration and the Linux command line.
Experience with containers and container technologies such as Docker.
A basic understanding of networking concepts.
Familiarity with Kubernetes fundamentals is recommended.
Experience working within cloud or virtualised environments is beneficial.

Target audience

This course is designed for:

Kubernetes administrators responsible for managing production clusters.
Linux system administrators.
Cloud administrators and infrastructure engineers.
DevOps engineers supporting Kubernetes environments.
IT professionals preparing for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Install, configure, and manage Kubernetes clusters.
• Configure networking, storage, and workload scheduling within Kubernetes.
• Secure Kubernetes clusters using authentication, authorisation, and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot Kubernetes environments.
• Perform cluster upgrades, backup, and recovery activities.
• Manage application workloads to ensure high availability and resilience.
• Prepare confidently for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) examination.

Introduction to Kubernetes

• Explore Kubernetes architecture and core components.
• Understand cluster design and deployment models.
• Review Kubernetes objects and resources.
• Prepare the administration environment.

Cluster installation and configuration

• Install Kubernetes clusters using kubeadm.
• Configure cluster components.
• Manage nodes and cluster resources.
• Validate cluster health and functionality.

Managing workloads

• Deploy and manage Pods, ReplicaSets, Deployments, and DaemonSets.
• Configure Namespaces and resource quotas.
• Manage rolling updates and application scaling.
• Optimise workload scheduling and placement.

Networking and service management

• Configure Kubernetes networking.
• Manage Services, Ingress, and DNS.
• Implement network policies.
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues within Kubernetes clusters.

Storage management

• Configure Persistent Volumes and Persistent Volume Claims.
• Manage Storage Classes.
• Implement dynamic storage provisioning.
• Support stateful applications using Kubernetes storage resources.

Cluster security

• Configure authentication and authorisation.
• Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
• Secure Secrets and Service Accounts.
• Apply security best practices across Kubernetes clusters.

Monitoring and troubleshooting

• Monitor cluster health and performance.
• Analyse logs and system events.
• Troubleshoot node, networking, and application issues.
• Diagnose and resolve common Kubernetes problems.

Cluster maintenance

• Perform cluster upgrades and maintenance.
• Manage backup and recovery processes.
• Maintain cluster reliability and availability.
• Apply operational best practices for production environments.

Exams and assessments

This course includes the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) examination. Throughout the course, learners complete practical hands-on labs and knowledge-based exercises that reinforce the skills required to successfully administer Kubernetes clusters in production environments.

Hands-on learning

This course includes:

• Extensive practical Kubernetes administration labs.
• Hands-on cluster installation and configuration exercises.
• Real-world troubleshooting scenarios.
• Guided activities covering networking, storage, security, and cluster management.
• Instructor-led demonstrations and practical workshops.