DevSecOps Certification Exam: Rules, Open‑Book Policy
Preparing for a DevSecOps certification exam can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure about what tools you may use, how the exam is structured. This guide consolidates the most important exam policies into a single, easy‑to‑read article. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to approach the practical challenges, when you can reference your notes, and what support is available during the test.
Table of Contents
What Types of Tools Can You Use?
Follow the Challenge Requirements
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Tool‑specific challenges – If the exam prompt explicitly states “use Terraform to provision the environment,” you must use Terraform.
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Open‑ended challenges – When no tool is mentioned, you are free to choose any method that produces the required output (e.g., a Bash script, a Python utility, or a commercial scanner).
How to Decide Which Tool to Use
| Situation | Recommended Approach |
|---|---|
| Exact tool is named | Use that tool; the evaluator will check for expected command syntax or configuration files. |
| No tool specified | Pick the tool you are most comfortable with, as long as the final artifact matches the expected result. |
| You want to build a custom script | Ensure the script is well‑documented and produces the same output as the reference solution. |
Example
Prompt: “Generate a JSON report that lists all vulnerable containers in the target cluster.”
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Allowed:
kubectl+jq, a Python script using the Docker API, or a pre‑built security scanner that outputs JSON. -
Not allowed: Submitting a screenshot of a GUI tool unless the exam explicitly permits it.
Timing: Lab Access vs. Exam Window
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Lab time is the period during which you can interact with the DevSecOps Box (the sandbox environment).
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Exam time begins after you finish the mandatory lab exercises.
Can you start the exam after the lab expires?
Yes. You may launch the exam once the lab session ends, but we strongly recommend completing all mandatory lab tasks before beginning the test. Finishing the labs ensures you have the necessary context and credentials (e.g., connection details for the Production Machine) to answer the practical scenarios efficiently.
Open‑Book Policy
What does “open‑book” mean for this certification?
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Reference Materials Allowed: Your personal notes, official course slides, documentation, and any offline resources you prepared.
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No External Assistance: Collaboration with other people for answers, or using AI tools to generate solutions during the exam is prohibited.
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Internet searches: You are allowed to search and browse the internet.
Even though the exam is practical, you may need to reason through a scenario—e.g., “Which stage of the pipeline should you integrate a secret‑scanning tool and why?” Use your notes to recall best practices, but the answer should reflect your own understanding.
Proctoring and Support During the Exam
- Support Team On‑Call: Our dedicated exam support staff monitors the platform for technical issues (e.g., connectivity problems, sandbox failures). If you encounter a problem, raise a ticket through the in‑exam chat, and a team member will respond promptly.
Note: Support is for technical problems only. Questions about the exam content itself should be answered using your own knowledge and allowed resources.
Practical Tips for a Successful Exam
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Complete Mandatory Labs First
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Verify you can connect to the Production Machine.
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Export any required credentials (API keys, SSH keys) before the exam starts.
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Organize Your Reference Materials
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Keep a one‑page cheat sheet with common commands (
kubectl,terraform,docker,jq). -
Bookmark the official DevSecOps documentation sections you rely on most.
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Time Management
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Allocate ~45 % of the exam time to hands‑on tasks, the remaining 55 % to theory and review.
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Use a timer to avoid spending too long on a single challenge.
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Validate Your Output Early
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After completing a script, run a quick sanity check (e.g.,
cat output.json | jq . | wc -l). -
Submit intermediate results only when you’re confident they meet the specification.
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Leverage the Support Channel Wisely
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Report only genuine platform issues (e.g., “My sandbox VM is not reachable”).
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Do not ask for hints or solution steps; that would violate the open‑book policy.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I use a commercial security scanner that isn’t listed in the course? | Yes, as long as the scanner produces the required output format. |
| What happens if my lab session ends before I finish the mandatory tasks? | You can still start the exam, but unfinished mandatory labs may cause you to miss critical information needed for the exam questions. |
| Are there any multiple‑choice theory questions? | No, the exam will be task oriented challenge and there is not any multiple choice question |
| How long do I have to complete the exam? | You have 6 hours from the moment you click “Start Exam.” |
| Can I use AI assistants (e.g., ChatGPT) while answering? | No. Using AI tools to generate answers is considered external assistance and violates the exam policy. |
| Can we discuss my exam after my exam period is over? | Apologies, but the exam question’s confidentiality is top secret, so even after your exam ends, we are still not allowed to discuss it. |
Bottom Line
The DevSecOps certification exam is designed to test both practical skill and theoretical understanding in a realistic, open‑book environment. By adhering to the tool requirements, completing mandatory labs, and leveraging your own notes (while avoiding prohibited assistance), you’ll be well‑positioned to succeed. Remember: the support team is there for technical hiccups, not for answering content questions. Good luck, and happy securing!