Kubernetes Fundamentals

Course Overview

An eight-module, hands-on introduction to Kubernetes built for cloud engineers approaching the topic for the first time — no prior Kubernetes knowledge required, just basic Docker and Linux familiarity. You start with cluster architecture and a local environment (Minikube or Kind), then work through core objects and YAML manifests, Services and Ingress, persistent storage and StatefulSets, RBAC and secrets management, and scheduling and scaling, building fluency with kubectl and multi-container patterns like sidecars and init containers along the way.

The course can be completed entirely in a local cluster or on a live STACKIT Kubernetes Engine (SKE) cluster, and a dedicated module walks through deploying your own application to SKE so the concepts land as production practice, not just theory. A closing module leaves you with links, tips, and exam guidance for the CNCF CKAD certification, making this course a solid foundation whether your goal is day-to-day cluster operations or a formal certification path.

What You’ll Learn

• Work confidently with Pods, Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, Secrets, Volumes, and Namespaces
• Write and customize YAML manifests to define Kubernetes resources
• Apply multi-container patterns: sidecars and init containers
• Configure networking, persistent storage, and RBAC for real workloads
• Deploy and operate applications on the STACKIT Kubernetes Engine (SKE)
• Prepare for the CNCF CKAD certification exam

Modules

• Kubernetes Architecture and Local Environments
• Core Objects: Pods, Deployments, and YAML Manifests
• Services, Ingress, and Network Policies
• Persistent Storage and StatefulSets
• RBAC, Configuration, and Secrets Management
• Scheduling, Affinity, and Workload Scaling
• STACKIT Kubernetes Engine (SKE) Integration
• CKAD Exam Preparation

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