Linux Foundation Certified Cloud Native Platform Engineering Associate (CNPA) Cert Prep

Course details

Explore the dynamic field of cloud native platform engineering with this comprehensive CNPA cert prep course. Uncover the core principles of platform engineering, from declarative vs. imperative resource management to advanced observability and security measures. Learn how to differentiate between mutable and immutable infrastructure, leveraging DevOps practices to optimize your workflows. Practice continuous delivery strategies and explore platform APIs, enhancing your expertise in platform engineering. Discover the importance of internal developer platforms and how to measure platform success through effective metrics. This course is tailored for platform engineers, DevOps practitioners, SREs, cloud native developers, and IT professionals eager to validate their skills. By the end, you'll be equipped with the practical knowledge to successfully tackle the CNPA certification and advance your career in high-demand platform engineering roles.

Concepts

Pre-requisites

Course introduction and prerequisites
Why CNPA certification
Registering taking an exam for the first time
CNPA exam blueprint
Platform engineering 101

Domain 1 - Platform Engineering Core Fundamentals

History of platform engineering
Declarative vs. imperative - Resource management concepts
Mutable vs. immutable infrastructure
DevOps practices in platform engineering
Applications environments and infrastructure concepts
Platform engineering goals, objectives, and approaches
Platform as a product
Platform architecture and capabilities
Continuous integration fundamentals
Continuous delivery and GitOps fundamentals

Domain 2 - Platform Observability, Security, and Conformance

Observability fundamentals
Tools for observability
Tools for platform security
Secure service communication
Networking considerations for platform engineers
Policy engines and governance
Kubernetes security essentials
Security in CI CD for platforms

Domain 3 - Continuous Delivery & Platform Engineering

CI CD pipeline architecture overview
Continuous integration basics
Artifact management
Continuous delivery deployment basics
Deployment types and strategies
CI CD security at all stages
Continuous delivery and GitOps
GitOps for application environments
Incident response in platform engineering

Domain 4 - Platform APIs and Provisioning Infrastructure

Kubernetes API and reconciliation
Custom resources (CRDs) for self-service APIs
Infrastructure provisioning with Kubernetes
Kubernetes operator patterns
Resource management and scaling
Cost and value for platform engineering

Domain 5 - Internal Developer Platforms and Developer Experience

Simplified access
API-driven portals
Developer portals with backstage
AI and ML in platform operations

Domain 6 - Measuring Your Platform

Operational efficiency and developer experience
DORA metrics
Recovery, incident management, and restoration
Continuous improvement
Platform maturity models

Mock Exams and Final Prep

Exam day tips
Next steps