The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the global availability of the Certified Kubernetes Network Engineer (CKNE) certification. Developed in collaboration with Linux Foundation Education, the new exam is designed to validate hands-on expertise in designing, securing and troubleshooting networking across production Kubernetes environments.
As organizations rely on Kubernetes to support all types of workloads including AI, networking has become a critical component of secure, reliable and scalable infrastructure. CKNE addresses the growing demand for specialized networking expertise, providing platform engineers, network engineers and site reliability engineers (SREs) with a vendor-neutral credential that demonstrates proficiency across the Kubernetes networking stack.
“Networking is fundamental to running Kubernetes reliably at scale, yet it remains one of the most complex areas for teams operating production environments,” said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO, CNCF. “As cloud native infrastructure grows to support more AI driven workloads, organizations need engineers who understand how to secure, connect and troubleshoot these systems. CKNE establishes a clear benchmark for that expertise while helping professionals build the specialized cloud native skills needed to operate modern network infrastructure.”
The CKNE is a performance-based, 120-minute certification exam that evaluates candidates through practical tasks in a Linux-based remote desktop environment. The exam covers five key domains which are important for organizations operating Kubernetes across multi-cluster, hybrid and enterprise environments: Core Infrastructure and CNI (15%), Service Networking and DNS (25%), Advanced Traffic Management (20%), Network Security and Policy (25%), and Observability (15%).
While no prior certifications are required, CKNE assumes Kubernetes administration knowledge comparable to the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification. The credential builds on foundational Kubernetes skills while enabling professionals to demonstrate deeper specialization in networking and security.
Special thanks to the following companies who contributed to the creation of CKNE: Dojobits, Ericsson, Infosys, Isovalent — now part of Cisco, Kong, Microsoft, RX-M and Solo.io
Introducing the CKNE Certification Pathway
To support professionals preparing for the new certification, CNCF and Linux Foundation Education are also introducing the CKNE Certification Pathway, a comprehensive training program designed to build practical Kubernetes networking expertise.
“Building reliable Kubernetes infrastructure requires more than foundational knowledge, especially as organizations scale their cloud native and AI workloads,” said Clyde Seepersad, senior vice president and general manager, Linux Foundation Education. “The CKNE certification and accompanying training pathway provide a practical approach to expanding expertise that benefits both individual careers and the organizations that depend on these systems.”
The pathway includes five specialized training modules aligned with the certification’s core competencies:
- Kubernetes Network Foundations: CNI and Pod Connectivity (LFS2015): Establishes foundational knowledge of Kubernetes networking architecture, CNI and Pod-to-Pod connectivity.
- Kubernetes Service Networking and DNS (LFS2016): Explores service discovery, DNS resolution and connectivity between applications running in Kubernetes environments.
- Advanced Kubernetes Traffic Management (LFS2017): Builds expertise in managing and routing application traffic across complex Kubernetes environments.
- Kubernetes Network Security and Policy (LFS2018): Focuses on securing Kubernetes network communication through traffic controls, network policies and related security mechanisms.
- Kubernetes Network Observability (LFS2019): Develops skills in monitoring, diagnosing and troubleshooting networking behavior across Kubernetes clusters.
The five modules will be available as a bundled training pathway alongside the CKNE certification, offering candidates a structured approach to developing the practical skills required to manage production Kubernetes networking.
“With CKNE and its accompanying certification pathway, we’re serving two vital audiences: helping network professionals bridge their expertise into the cloud native ecosystem, while enabling Kubernetes engineers to master advanced networking challenges,” said Christophe Sauthier, cloud native training and certification lead, CNCF. “This pathway builds confidence across both disciplines, giving organizations a trusted benchmark to identify talent ready for complex, production-grade cloud environments.”
Expanding CNCF’s Cloud Native Certification Portfolio
The launch of CKNE builds on CNCF’s continued investment in cloud native education and professional development, expanding a certification portfolio designed to support engineers at every stage of their careers.
As Kubernetes adoption matures, more organizations require professionals with expertise beyond foundational cluster administration, including platform engineering, security, observability and networking. Certifications such as the Certified Cloud Native Platform Engineer (CNPE) and CKNE reflect this evolution, providing opportunities for professionals to validate specialized skills across production environments.
Looking ahead, CNCF also plans to introduce two additional certifications in 2027: Kubernetes AI Associate (KAIA) and Certified Kubernetes Inference Engineer (CKIE). These upcoming credentials will further expand CNCF’s training and certification portfolio as AI and cloud native technologies continue to converge.
