Today Linux Foundation Training & Certification and the Cloud Native Computing Foundation are announcing the availability of our newest training course, LFS260 – Kubernetes Security Essentials. The course provides skills and knowledge on a broad range of best practices for securing container-based applications and Kubernetes platforms during build, deployment and runtime. It is also a great way to prepare to take the recently launched Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification exam. 

As production environments become more decoupled and agile, keeping the entire environment secure has become more complex. This challenge will only become more acute as cloud adoption accelerates. Additionally, we saw from the 2020 Open Source Jobs Report that cloud and security skills have the biggest and third biggest impact on hiring decisions respectively, further highlighting the talent gap for these skills. All of these are primary reasons that CNCF and The Linux Foundation are launching this course. By making training and certification related to cloud and container security widely accessible, the hope is to help close that talent gap.

The 30 hour self-paced course is conducted online, and includes learning from industry experts and hands-on labs to give participants the experience they need to secure their container-based applications. It covers more than just container security, exploring topics from before a cluster has been configured through deployment, and ongoing and agile use, including where to find ongoing security and vulnerability information. 

By the end of the course, participants will understand security concerns for cloud production environments and be able to harden systems and clusters, secure the container supply chain, monitor and log security events, and more. 

The course was developed by Tim Serewicz, Senior Instructor and courseware developer at The Linux Foundation. Tim is responsible for writing and updating the Kubernetes Fundamentals, Kubernetes for Developers, and Kubernetes Security Essentials courses for The Linux Foundation, among others, and was involved in creation of the CKS exam.

Enroll today and begin bolstering your cloud security chops!

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Introduction to WebAssembly is the newest training course from The Linux Foundation! This course, offered on the non-profit edX learning platform, can be audited by anyone at no cost. The course is designed for web developers, Dweb, cloud, and blockchain developers, architects, and CTOs interested in learning about the strengths and limitations of WebAssembly, the fourth “official” language of the web (alongside JavaScript, HTML and CSS), and its potential applications in blockchain, serverless, edge/IoT, and more. WebAssembly has been rapidly growing in popularity thanks to its security, simplicity and the lightweight nature of the runtime. It is also language-agnostic, being a suitable compilation target for a wide range of modern languages.

The six hour course uses video content, written material and hands-on labs to delve into how WebAssembly runs ‘under the hood’, and how you can leverage its capabilities in and beyond the browser. It also explores a series of potential applications in different industries, and takes a quick peek at upcoming features. Enrollees will walk away from the course with an understanding of what the WebAssembly runtime is, and how it provides a secure, fast and efficient compilation target for a wide range of modern programming languages, allowing them to target the browser and beyond. 

The course was developed by Colin Eberhardt, the Technology Director at Scott Logic, a UK-based software consultancy which creates complex applications for financial services clients. Colin is an avid technology enthusiast, spending his evenings contributing to open source projects, writing blog posts and learning as much as he can.

“WebAssembly is one of the most exciting technologies I have come across for years,” said Eberhard. “Its initial promise was a fast and efficient multi-language runtime for the web, but it has the potential to be so much more. We are already seeing this runtime being used for numerous applications beyond the browser, including serverless and blockchain, with more novel uses and applications appearing each week!”

The course is available for immediate enrollment. Those requiring a verified certificate of completion may upgrade their enrollment for $149. Start gaining skills in WebAssembly today!

The post New, Free Training Course Covering Basics of the WebAssembly Now Available appeared first on Linux Foundation – Training.

2020 was a difficult year for all of us, and for many it continues in 2021. Jobs have been lost, and whole industries have been forced to revamp their entire business models, leaving many out of work or facing new ways of working. While significant challenges remain, think of this as an opportunity to consider a new career in the new year. 

Pick the right path for you

The first thing to consider when looking at moving into an IT career is deciding what area of IT to pursue. The 2020 Open Source Jobs Report found the most in demand position to DevOps practitioners followed by developers. The top areas of expertise being sought by hiring managers are Linux, cloud, and security. While it’s good to consider what skills are in demand, it’s just as important to figure out which subject areas will interest you most. If you find a role that not only offers great career opportunities but that you will also enjoy, you are that much more likely to be successful. Our Career Path Quiz is a great place to start, and can point you in the direction of a technology focus that aligns with your existing interests.

Start with free training to ensure there’s a fit

Before jumping head first into a training and/or certification program, take advantage of free training courses to gain baseline knowledge and also ensure this path is really one you want to pursue. Our Plan Your Training page outlines suggested courses and certifications depending on the subject area you’ve chosen to pursue. Many paths, including System Administration, Cloud & Containers, and DevOps & Site Reliability Engineering all start with LFS101 – Introduction to Linux, which is a good starting point for just about anyone looking to start an IT career. Other popular free courses included LFS151 – Introduction to Cloud Infrastructure Technologies, LFS158 – Introduction to Kubernetes, and LFS162 – Introduction to DevOps & Site Reliability Engineering.

Begin learning about intermediate and advanced topics

Once you’ve selected a path and taken some free courses to confirm it’s right for you, it’s now time to move into intermediate and advanced training courses. The Plan Your Training page is still a great resource as it lists the courses that will be most beneficial to learn about a particular topic area. Keep in mind that you typically will not need to complete every single course in a given area to be ready to begin working; concentrate on ensuring that you have the basic skills needed and you can always come back later in your career to pursue more advanced courses.

Think about certifications

While planning the training courses you wish to complete, keep certifications top of mind as well. Especially for those who are new to IT and do not have past experience to fall back on, holding a certification gives potential employers confidence that you have the skills needed to succeed in a given role. Many Linux Foundation training courses complement and help prepare for specific certification exams, so work both into your learning plan. And we offer certifications for those just starting out, like the Linux Foundation Certified IT Associate (LFCA), in addition to more specialized certifications like the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA). Be sure to take advantage of the digital badges awarded for successfully completing a certification, which can be linked to social media profiles like LinkedIn and also can be independently verified, providing confidence for employers of your skills. The Open Source Jobs Report also found that a majority of hiring managers give preference to certified candidates, so these certifications really can open doors.

More structured options

For those who want a bit more structure and support in achieving their learning goals, we also offer two bootcamps. If you’re just getting started and are interested in pursuing a cloud career, the Cloud Engineer Bootcamp meets all your training and certification needs in one organized package. One major benefit of the bootcamps is they include instructor office hours five days per week, enabling you to actually speak to one of our expert instructors to answer questions and get tips on how to be most successful. 

As we move forward into 2021, countless new career opportunities will be available for those who take the steps to pursue them. Get started today and enroll in training to gain the skills you need to be successful in an IT career, then take those skills and gain the certification to prove it!

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