Save Upto 40% on Kubernetes Security Certifications From the Linux Foundation

If you have been planning to get a certification, this is the week to do it. The Linux Foundation is running its Cyber Security Month promo, and you can get up to 40% off on cyber security certifications, training courses and the THRIVE-ONE e-learning subscription.

Linux Foundation is the official organization behind Linux, Kubernetes, and many other industry-facing projects. Their certifications are well respected across countries and enterprises.

The offer ends on October 23, 2026 at 23:59 UTC. That gives you just a couple of days to make up your mind.

The good thing is that you have one full year to take the certification exam. So, you can purchase the cert exams today to save the money, prepare in a few weeks/couple of months and then attempt the exam.

There is also a 3 day money back guarantee with some conditions. Please read the policy here.

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Your discount codes

Here are the codes. They are specific to It’s FOSS readers, so use these and not the generic ones you see on the promo page.

So if you are eyeing CKA, LFCS or any other Linux Foundation certification that is not in the cybersecurity list, you still get 35% off with the second code.

Even if the offer ends, you can always get 30% off with our special coupon code: ITSFOSS.

Kubernetes Security Certifications

The biggest savings this time are on the Kubernetes security certifications. Here are the ones worth looking at.

KCSA + CKS bundle: $645 $387

This bundle groups two certification exams together: Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA) and Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS). You save $258 over the regular bundle price.

KCSA is the entry-level, multiple choice exam. CKS is the hands-on, professional one. Taking them in this order makes sense, as KCSA builds the foundation that CKS expects from you.

Keep in mind that you must have passed the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam before you can take CKS. If you don’t have CKA yet, you can grab it with the 35% code OCT26NONCYBERFOSS.

You can also choose to get either of the certification exams instead of the bundle. But if you are getting both, the bundle saves you additional money.

Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS): $445 $267

CKS is a 2-hour, performance-based exam. You solve real tasks on a live Kubernetes cluster from the command line, so there is no guessing your way through multiple choice options.

You also get two sessions on the Killer.sh exam simulator to practice in an environment similar to the real exam. The certification is valid for 2 years. As mentioned above, an active CKA is a prerequisite.

Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate (KCSA): $250 $150

KCSA is a pre-professional certification for people starting out in cloud native security. It is a 90-minute, online proctored, multiple choice exam with no prerequisites.

At $150, this is the most affordable way to get a Linux Foundation security certification on your resume this month. You save $100.

THRIVE-ONE Annual (e-learning): $360 $252

THRIVE-ONE is the Linux Foundation’s subscription. The annual plan gives you unlimited access to the entire e-learning catalog for a year, plus all SkillCred exams.

You also get a 40% coupon for any certification or course and 50% off guaranteed-to-run instructor-led courses. Note that certification exams themselves are not included in the subscription.

This works well if you want to learn several technologies over the year instead of focusing on one exam. The 30% discount applies to new subscriptions only.

Why get certified at all?

I get asked this a lot. Are Linux certifications worth it?

A certification is a way to prove to a recruiter that you have the skill. Anyone can list “Kubernetes” or “Linux administration” on a resume. A certification from an industry-recognized body like the Linux Foundation tells the hiring manager that someone has actually tested you on it.

This matters even more for performance-based exams like CKA, CKS and LFCS. You don’t pick answers from a list. You fix real problems on a live system within a time limit, which is pretty much what the job looks like.

Certifications are even more helpful if you are a fresh graduate, or if you are switching to a new domain like cloud native or security.

And it is not just my opinion. In the Linux Foundation’s 2026 State of Tech Talent report, 76% of organizations said they value certifications when assessing candidates for a technical role. That is slightly ahead of college degrees at 74%, and this is the third year in a row that certifications have ranked above degrees.

You don’t have to take the exam this week

This is the part a lot of people miss. You only need to buy the certification before October 23. You don’t need to take the exam right away.

Linux Foundation certifications come with 12 months of exam eligibility. You can schedule and take the exam any time within a year of purchase. So you can lock in the discounted price now and prepare at your own pace.

Most certifications also include one free retake. If your first attempt does not go well, you get a second chance without paying again. That’s a big relief, in my opinion.

Missed the deal? Use our evergreen code

If you are reading this after October 23, don’t worry. It’s FOSS readers have a code that works any time, even when no promo is running.

💡 Use the code ITSFOSS to get 30% off on Linux Foundation certifications, e-learning courses and bundles. Valid all year round.

Let me know in the comments if you encounter any inaccuracies or if you have questions.