Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate (KCNA) Study Guide

Learn how to prepare for—and pass—the KCNA (Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate) certification exam. This practical guide serves as both a study guide and point of entry for practitioners looking to explore and adopt cloud native technologies. Adrian Gonzalez Sanchez teaches you not only the core technology fundamentals, but also the community and industry that KCNA serves.

With the meteoric rise in cloud adoption, cloud native technologies such as Kubernetes have become the de facto industry standard. Other Kubernetes certifications—CKAD, CKA, and CKS—are all geared towards higher level technical proficiency. The KCNA certification exam covers the cloud native environment generally as well as the fundamental Kubernetes skills and knowledge.

This guide helps you learn:

• How to best and most efficiently prepare for the KCNA exam
• The latest cloud native developments and their importance
• The fundamentals of Kubernetes, cloud native development, and related CNCF projects
• The core elements of Kubernetes applications
• The crucial elements of modern cloud native development
• How to differentiate and choose cloud native technologies
• The market value of passing the KCNA exam

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction to the KCNA Certification and Study Guide

Chapter 2. The KCNA Exam as the Starting Point

Chapter 3. CNCF and the New Era of Cloud Native

Chapter 4. Essential Concepts for Cloud Native Practitioners

Chapter 5. The Key Role of Kubernetes

Chapter 6. Technical Kubernetes Topics

Chapter 7. Final Recommendations

Appendix A. End-of-Book Knowledge Check

Appendix B. Solutions to Self-Questionnaire and Knowledge Checks

About the Author

Adrian Gonzalez Sanchez is a Cloud, Data and AI Specialist at Microsoft, as well as the Industrial AI Lead for the Spanish Observatory of Ethical AI (OdiseIA). He has previously worked as a Senior Consultant and Product Owner in AI and data science with CGI Canada and IVADO Labs, Head of AI Customer success for Peritus.ai, and other data-driven companies in Europe and Latin America.

He is a trainer for the cole des Dirigeants at HEC Montreal, the Continuing Education Department at Concordia University, and online training courses for O’Reilly Media and the Linux Foundation. He also collaborates with 2U / GetSmarter as a tutor and facilitator for MIT Sloan’s AI and Blockchain executive courses, and Harvard VPAL’s Fintech course.

Jorge is a dedicated professional and passionate educator in the field of technology. With a Telecommunications Engineering degree from UC3M and a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from UNIR, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his roles.He has a deep passion for the Open Source community and its transformative influence on software development. Since 2013, Jorge has been at the forefront of cloud native technologies, actively working with cutting-edge solutions.

Jorge continues to actively contribute to the industry as the director of the Cloud Solution Architects team at Microsoft Spain, driving innovation and enabling organizations to harness the full potential of cloud technologies. Through his diverse roles, Jorge embodies the essence of a true thought leader, combining expertise, teaching, and a relentless passion for advancing technology.