> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://developer.harness.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://developer.harness.io/university/readme/continuous-integration.md).

# Continuous Integration

Learn Continuous Integration through Harness University

Optimizing performance through hosted builds, caching, and proprietary Test Intelligence™. Designed to be blazing fast, simple, and open to help make developers' lives easier. Plus, all the scalable features needed to meet enterprise demands – with developer autonomy alongside software efficiency , reliability, and security.

Go to [Harness University](/university/readme.md) for the full catalogue of courses and certifications.

## Self-Paced Training

Free self-paced courses that you can consume on your own time.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8d9330b11e4adb2c19a6b64b4a75262530fb0ef8%2Fplatform.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Harness Platform Fundamentals</strong></td><td>Self-paced video course introducing the Harness Platform.<br><em>Product version: Free Plans of any module</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-platform-fundamentals">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-platform-fundamentals</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8d9330b11e4adb2c19a6b64b4a75262530fb0ef8%2Fplatform.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to AI Agents</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing the Custom AI Agents.<br><em>Product version: Paid Plans of any module</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-custom-ai-agents">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-custom-ai-agents</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Continuous Integration</strong></td><td>Self-paced video course introducing Harness Continuous Integration.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Free Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-harness-continuous-integration">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-harness-continuous-integration</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to CI Pipeline Variables</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing CI Pipeline Variables.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-ci-pipeline-variables">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-ci-pipeline-variables</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Harness CI UI &#x26; YAML Editor</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Introduction to Harness CI UI &#x26; YAML Editor.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-harness-ci-ui-yaml-editor">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-harness-ci-ui-yaml-editor</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Matrix Looping Strategy</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Matrix Looping Strategies.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-matrix-looping-strategy">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-matrix-looping-strategy</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Secure Repo Cloning</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Secure Repo Cloning.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introducing-secure-repo-cloning">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introducing-secure-repo-cloning</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Docker Build and Push</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Docker Build and Push.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-harness-docker-build-push">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-harness-docker-build-push</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to CI Security Scan</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing CI Security Scan.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-ci-security-scan">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-ci-security-scan</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Governance Policies (OPA)</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Governance Policies (OPA).<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-governance-policies-opa">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-governance-policies-opa</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Test Intelligence</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Test Intelligence.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-test-intelligence">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-test-intelligence</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to Parallel Steps</strong></td><td>Self-paced tidbit introducing Parallel Steps as part of Test Intelligence Steps.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-parallel-steps">https://university-registration.harness.io/self-paced-training-tidbit-introduction-to-parallel-steps</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Instructor-Led Training

Intensive two-day courses are designed for engineers looking to deepen their understanding and expertise in Harness.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8d9330b11e4adb2c19a6b64b4a75262530fb0ef8%2Fplatform.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Introduction to the Harness Platform</strong></td><td>Self-paced hands-on, prerequisite course to all module-specific ILT courses.<br><em>Product version: Paid Plans of any module</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/introduction-to-the-harness-platform">https://university-registration.harness.io/introduction-to-the-harness-platform</a></td></tr><tr><td><img src="https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9f81f035c63a28e7fda8fce54557e069a50122e1%2Fbuild.svg?alt=media" alt="" data-size="line"> <strong>Continuous Integration</strong></td><td>Deep dive into advanced Continus Integration concepts focused on containerization.<br><em>Product version: Harness CI Paid Plans</em></td><td><a href="https://university-registration.harness.io/ilt-continuous-integration">https://university-registration.harness.io/ilt-continuous-integration</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Certifications

Test and validate your knowledge of Harness by becoming a Harness Certified Expert.

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="For Developer" %}

### Continuous Integration - Developer

![Continuous Integration - Developer badge](https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2adc854fa5b999e7894a7877f838997fb2412d30%2Fcert_dev_ci_badge.svg?alt=media)

**Product version:** Harness CI Free Plans

Assesses the fundamental skills to deploy CI projects.

#### Review Study Guide

| Objective                                                                                  | Material                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1. Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices**                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Distinguish between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous Deployment | [Harness Continuous Integration (CI) overview](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/get-started/overview)                                                                                                      |
| Identify key concepts related to CI/CD pipelines and their steps                           | [Key concepts](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/get-started/key-concepts)                                                                                                                                  |
| Recognize best practices for implementing CI/CD in software development workflows          | [Optimization strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/prep-ci-pipeline-components/#optimization-strategies)                                                                                    |
| **2. Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization**                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Construct a Harness CI pipeline and establish its stages and steps                         | [CI onboarding guide](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/get-started/onboarding-guide)                                                                                                                       |
| Diagnose and resolve common errors and issues within the CI pipeline                       | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/troubleshoot-ci/troubleshooting-ci)                                                                                                                     |
| Implement strategies to optimize pipeline execution and minimize build times               | [Optimization strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/prep-ci-pipeline-components/#optimization-strategies)                                                                                    |
| **3. Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations**                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Configure and manage various Harness Connectors (e.g., Docker, Git)                        | [Configure codebase](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/codebase-configuration/create-and-configure-a-codebase/)                                                                                      |
| Understand and implement integration with different platforms and OS                       | [What's supported by CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/ci-supported-platforms)                                                                                                                          |
| **4. Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI**                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Establish Docker connectivity and manage Docker connectors                                 | [Build and Push to Docker](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/build-and-upload-artifacts/build-and-push/build-and-push-to-docker-registry)                                                            |
| Develop and optimize Dockerfile configurations and image handling                          | [Harness CI images](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/harness-ci/)                                                                                                       |
| Diagnose and mitigate common Docker-related issues and errors                              | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/troubleshoot-harness-ci)                                                                                                                                              |
| **5. Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management**                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Understand and implement the configuration of Harness CI Codebase                          | [Configure codebase](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/codebase-configuration/create-and-configure-a-codebase/)                                                                                      |
| Optimize and manage code repository, connectors, and trigger settings                      | [Optimization strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/prep-ci-pipeline-components/#optimization-strategies)                                                                                    |
| **6. Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI**                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Configure and manage authentication methods for various connectors (e.g., Git, Docker)     | [Using Git Credentials from Codebase Connector in CI Pipeline's Run Step](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/ci-articles-faqs/articles/use-git-credentials-from-codebase-connector-in-ci-pipelines-run-step) |
| Implement and utilize Secrets Management tools with Harness CI                             | [Use secrets managers](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/get-started/tutorials/add-secrets-manager)                                                                                                                       |
| Understand and implement access control using Harness RBAC configurations                  | [Role-based access control (RBAC) in Harness](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/role-based-access-control/rbac-in-harness/)                                                                                               |
| **7. Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI**                          |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Configure and synchronize Harness Test Intelligence with main/master branches              | [Test Intelligence overview](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/run-tests/ti-overview)                                                                                                                |
| Implement strategies to improve and optimize test execution times                          | [Test step](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/run-tests/tests-v2)                                                                                                                                    |
| **8. Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness**                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Implement and utilize advanced features like caching and conditional executions in CI      | [Define conditional executions for stages and steps](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/pipelines/step-skip-condition-settings)                                                                                            |
| Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve common issues and errors in CI stages                  | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/troubleshoot-harness-ci)                                                                                                                                              |
| **9. Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI**                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Understand, install, and manage plugins in the Harness CI environment                      | [Use Drone plugins](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/use-drone-plugins/run-a-drone-plugin-in-ci)                                                                                                    |
| Implement use-cases using various Harness CI and third-party plugins                       | [Explore plugins](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/use-drone-plugins/explore-ci-plugins/)                                                                                                           |

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/certified-continuous-integration-developer)

#### Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Developer exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Integration Delivery module.

**Prerequisites**

* Basic terminal skills
* Basic understanding of on-premise or cloud architecture

**Exam Details**

Exam Duration: 90 minutes

Question Type: Multiple choice

| Covered Domain                                                         | % of Coverage |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| 1. Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices                  | 12%           |
| 2. Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization                       | 11%           |
| 3. Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations   | 11%           |
| 4. Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI | 11%           |
| 5. Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management                    | 11%           |
| 6. Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI                | 11%           |
| 7. Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI          | 11%           |
| 8. Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness                 | 11%           |
| 9. Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI              | 11%           |

**Exam Objectives**

<details>

<summary>List of Objectives</summary>

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

| #     | Objective                                                                                  |
| ----- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **1** | **Understanding of CI/CD Concepts and Best Practices**                                     |
| 1.1   | Distinguish between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous Deployment |
| 1.2   | Identify key concepts related to CI/CD pipelines and their steps                           |
| 1.3   | Recognize best practices for implementing CI/CD in software development workflows          |
| **2** | **Harness CI Pipeline Creation and Optimization**                                          |
| 2.1   | Construct a Harness CI pipeline and establish its stages and steps                         |
| 2.2   | Diagnose and resolve common errors and issues within the CI pipeline                       |
| 2.3   | Implement strategies to optimize pipeline execution and minimize build times               |
| **3** | **Utilization and Management of Harness Connectors and Integrations**                      |
| 3.1   | Configure and manage various Harness Connectors (e.g., Docker, Git)                        |
| 3.2   | Understand and implement integration with different platforms and OS                       |
| **4** | **Implementing and Managing Docker and Containerization in Harness CI**                    |
| 4.1   | Establish Docker connectivity and manage Docker connectors                                 |
| 4.2   | Develop and optimize Dockerfile configurations and image handling                          |
| 4.3   | Diagnose and mitigate common Docker-related issues and errors                              |
| **5** | **Harness CI Configuration and Codebase Management**                                       |
| 5.1   | Understand and implement the configuration of Harness CI Codebase                          |
| 5.2   | Optimize and manage code repository, connectors, and trigger settings                      |
| **6** | **Authentication and Security Management in Harness CI**                                   |
| 6.1   | Configure and manage authentication methods for various connectors (e.g., Git, Docker)     |
| 6.2   | Implement and utilize Secrets Management tools with Harness CI                             |
| 6.3   | Understand and implement access control using Harness RBAC configurations                  |
| **7** | **Implementing and Utilizing Test Intelligence in Harness CI**                             |
| 7.1   | Configure and synchronize Harness Test Intelligence with main/master branches              |
| 7.2   | Implement strategies to improve and optimize test execution times                          |
| **8** | **Advanced CI Features and Troubleshooting in Harness**                                    |
| 8.1   | Implement and utilize advanced features like caching and conditional executions in CI      |
| 8.2   | Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve common issues and errors in CI stages                  |
| **9** | **Implementation of Plugins and Extensions in Harness CI**                                 |
| 9.1   | Understand, install, and manage plugins in the Harness CI environment                      |
| 9.2   | Implement use-cases using various Harness CI and third-party plugins                       |

</details>

**Next Steps**

The Continuous Integration Developer exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow up to 90 mins for the exam.

1. Create an account in Harness University
2. Register for an exam
3. Take the exam

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/certified-continuous-integration-developer)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="For Administrator" %}

### Continuous Integration - Administrator

![Continuous Integration - Administrator badge](https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-06d392732b7220db856dee50808d72a781ba9993%2Fcert_adm_ci_badge.svg?alt=media)

**Product version:** Harness CI Paid Plans

Assesses the fundamental skills to deploy and maintain CI projects and the overall Harness Platform. This exam builds upon the CI Developer Certification.

#### Review Study Guide

| Topic                                                                                                                    | Material                                                                                                                                                                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1. Introduction to Harness and Key Concepts**                                                                          |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Understand continuous integration fundamentals, including critical stages or steps                                       | [Harness CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/get-started/key-concepts)                                                                                         |
| Grasp the core concepts: "Pipeline, Stages, Step Groups, Steps" and Harness hierarchy "Account, Organizations, Projects" | [Key Concepts](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/get-started/key-concepts)                                                                                                     |
| Familiarize with Harness Manager and the role of Harness Delegate for CI capability                                      | [CI key concepts](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/get-started/key-concepts)                                                                                    |
| **2. Harness Build Infrastructure and Configuration**                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Explore Harness Cloud supported platforms, OS, and build infrastructures                                                 | [Use Harness Cloud build infrastructure](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/use-harness-cloud-build-infrastructure/)           |
| Dive into CI Build Infrastructures and their diverse options                                                             | [Harness CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/which-build-infrastructure-is-right-for-me)                                    |
| Understand Ephemeral Environments and the specific requirements for a K8s Build environment                              | [Which build infrastructure is right for me](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/which-build-infrastructure-is-right-for-me/)   |
| **3. Artifact Management and Connectivity**                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Grasp Artifacts and Packages spanning from jar to container image, helm, and more                                        | [Artifacts Tab](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/build-and-upload-artifacts/artifacts-tab)                                                               |
| Describe and configure Artifact Repositories like cont registry, object store, jfrog, nexus, etc                         | [Connect to an Artifact repository](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/connectors/artifact-repositories/connect-to-an-artifact-repo/)                                           |
| Delve into Harness Connectors: configuration of Git, DockerHub, and more                                                 | [Connectors](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/connectors)                                                                                                                     |
| **4. Harness CI Pipelines and Advanced Features**                                                                        |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Master Codebase configuration, shared paths, and step library, including plugin configurations                           | [Configure codebase](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/codebase-configuration/create-and-configure-a-codebase)                                            |
| Understand and set up advanced features like caching intelligence, test intelligence, and flow control                   | [Harness CI Intelligence](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/harness-ci-intelligence)                                                                      |
| Configure pipeline features, including triggers, input sets, failure strategies, looping, and notifications              | [Pipeline creation overview](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/prep-ci-pipeline-components)                                                               |
| **5. Pipeline Execution Strategies**                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Get to grips with execution environments: running steps on host vs. containers                                           | [Stage and step conditional execution settings](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-delivery/x-platform-cd-features/executions/step-and-stage-conditional-execution-settings/) |
| Manage outputs, PR status updates, and understand chained pipelines                                                      | [Output variables with chained pipeline](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/variables-and-expressions/chained-pipeline-output-variables/)                                       |
| Delve into advanced options like timeouts, selective stage executions, and stage context sharing                         | [Pipelines](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/pipelines)                                                                                                                       |
| **6. Security and Access Control**                                                                                       |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Understand RBAC with user groups, roles, role bindings, and service account considerations                               | [RBAC in Harness](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/role-based-access-control/rbac-in-harness)                                                                                 |
| Configure access and permissions, including tags and resource groups                                                     | [Permissions Reference](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/role-based-access-control/permissions-reference)                                                                     |
| Grasp the implications of anonymous Docker image pulls and other security considerations                                 | [Docker Connector Settings Reference](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/connectors/cloud-providers/ref-cloud-providers/docker-registry-connector-settings-reference/)          |
| **7. Authentication and User Management**                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Deep dive into OAuth, SAML, and SCIM integrations                                                                        | [Authentication](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/authentication)                                                                                                             |
| Set up and manage credentials, user and group permissions, and more                                                      | [Manage user groups](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/role-based-access-control/add-user-groups)                                                                              |
| Delve into debugging and troubleshooting techniques, including running pipeline steps locally                            | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/troubleshoot-harness-ci)                                                                                                   |
| **8. Policy-Based Governance and Compliance**                                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Explore and configure policy as code with OPA and Rego                                                                   | [Harness Policy As Code quickstart](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/governance/policy-as-code/harness-governance-quickstart)                                                 |
| Enforce governance within pipelines and understand templates for Harness CI                                              | [Manage access control for asset governance rules](https://developer.harness.io/docs/cloud-cost-management/getting-started-ccm/access-control/rbac-asset-gov/)                          |
| Familiarize with account audit trails and their respective use cases                                                     | [View audit trail](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/governance/audit-trail/)                                                                                                  |
| **9. Enterprise Features and Dashboards**                                                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Delve into Enterprise dashboards, including custom options like Looker                                                   | [Best practices for building dashboards](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/dashboards/dashboard-best-practices/)                                                               |
| Explore Pipeline Studio's execution history and other related features                                                   | [Input sets and overlays](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/pipelines/input-sets)                                                                                              |
| Get a handle on pipeline templatization for scalable CI solutions                                                        | [Best practices and guidelines for templates](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/templates/templates-best-practices/)                                                           |

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/continuous-integration-administrator)

#### Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Administrator exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Continuous Integration module.

**Prerequisites**

* Intermediate terminal skills
* Basic understanding of on-premise or cloud architecture
* This exam builds upon the [CI Developer Exam](/university/readme/continuous-integration.md)

**Exam Details**

| Exam Type          | Duration    |
| ------------------ | ----------- |
| **Knowledge Exam** | 90 minutes  |
| **Hands On Exam**  | 120 minutes |

| Covered Domain                                                   | % of Coverage |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| 1. Understanding and Managing Pipelines in Harness CI            | 12%           |
| 2. Configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Harness       | 12%           |
| 3. Implementing and Managing Authentication and Security         | 12%           |
| 4. Working with Harness CI/CD Integration and Infrastructure     | 12%           |
| 5. Utilizing and Managing Harness Connectors                     | 12%           |
| 6. Implementing and Leveraging Harness Variables and Expressions | 12%           |
| 7. Leveraging Harness Secret Management and Secret Usage         | 12%           |
| 8. Managing Harness CI/CD Artifacts and File Store               | 12%           |
| 9. Harness Delegate Configuration and Management                 | 16%           |

**Exam Objectives**

<details>

<summary>List of Objectives</summary>

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

| #     | Objective                                                                                                             |
| ----- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1** | **Understanding and Managing Pipelines in Harness CI**                                                                |
| 1.1   | Define and work with Background Steps and Pipeline Chains                                                             |
| 1.2   | Explore Child Pipelines and their transitions in Chaining                                                             |
| 1.3   | Identify best practices for CI Pipeline Templates and breaking changes management                                     |
| **2** | **Configuring Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) in Harness**                                                           |
| 2.1   | Setup RBAC configurations for executing Chained Pipelines                                                             |
| 2.2   | Understand the hierarchy level and scope where Roles can be created                                                   |
| 2.3   | Explain how permissions are granted to a Service Account within the RBAC model                                        |
| **3** | **Implementing and Managing Authentication and Security**                                                             |
| 3.1   | Implement various methods to increase Authentication security level                                                   |
| 3.2   | Understand and work with different supported SSO methods                                                              |
| 3.3   | Apply Harness Policy as Code to enforce governance and security practices                                             |
| **4** | **Working with Harness CI/CD Integration and Infrastructure**                                                         |
| 4.1   | Comprehend how Harness CI integrates with GitHub Actions and other Git providers                                      |
| 4.2   | Discern how Harness Cloud deals with build infrastructures and related maintenance                                    |
| 4.3   | Know how to choose and configure build infrastructure options, including the use of Kubernetes                        |
| **5** | **Utilizing and Managing Harness Connectors**                                                                         |
| 5.1   | Manage connectors for various platforms like GitHub, Docker Hub, and Artifact Repositories                            |
| 5.2   | Determine settings for returning codebase variables to Harness via code repo connectors                               |
| 5.3   | Develop strategies to avoid rate/throttling limiting issues when interacting with external repositories and platforms |
| **6** | **Implementing and Leveraging Harness Variables and Expressions**                                                     |
| 6.1   | Utilize JEXL expressions within pipeline variables for dynamic functionality                                          |
| 6.2   | Establish and reference variables across different hierarchy levels within Harness                                    |
| 6.3   | Recognize suitable scenarios for the utilization of built-in/custom variables in CI processes                         |
| **7** | **Leveraging Harness Secret Management and Secret Usage**                                                             |
| 7.1   | Recognize benefits and applications of secrets management within Harness CI                                           |
| 7.2   | Identify and rectify incidents involving the unintended exposure of Secrets                                           |
| 7.3   | Integrate external Secrets Management technologies into the Harness platform                                          |
| **8** | **Managing Harness CI/CD Artifacts and File Store**                                                                   |
| 8.1   | Understand and apply best practices for tagging and managing CI artifacts                                             |
| 8.2   | Identify and utilize the primary functionalities of the Harness File Store                                            |
| 8.3   | Determine appropriate methods for handling and storing different CI artifacts and dependencies                        |
| **9** | **Harness Delegate Configuration and Management**                                                                     |
| 9.1   | Understand and explain the main role and function of the Harness Delegate                                             |
| 9.2   | Identify available options and best practices for installing and configuring the Harness Delegate                     |
| 9.3   | Manage Delegate tags and utilize them effectively within CI processes and selectors                                   |

</details>

**Next Steps**

The Continuous Integration Administrator exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow 90 mins for the knowledge exam and approximately 90 minutes for the hands on exam.

1. Create an account in Harness University
2. Register for an exam. There is a $50 fee for the exam
3. Review the [instructions for the Hands On Exam](/university/readme/instructions.md)
4. Take the exams
   1. There will be a knowledge and hands on portion.

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/continuous-integration-administrator)
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="For Architect" %}

### Continuous Integration - Architect

![Continuous Integration - Architect badge](https://2307127582-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Feh03Q8VHpO02MFM5nUSL%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-fa00fc5a72c328b4dd78bc36c0061d0cfcaedd0d%2Fcert_arc_ci_badge.svg?alt=media)

**Product version:** Harness CI Paid Plans

Assess key technical job functions and advanced skills in design, implementation and management of CI. This exam builds upon the CI Admin Certification

#### Review Study Guide

| Objective                                                                                | Material                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1. Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates**                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Manage and troubleshoot Kubernetes Delegates                                             | [Install Harness Delegate on Kubernetes or Docker](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/get-started/tutorials/install-delegate)                                                                                      |
| Implement and troubleshoot networking and connectivity issues                            | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/troubleshoot-harness-ci)                                                                                                                                      |
| **2. Managing Build Environments and Dependencies**                                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Navigate and solve issues in Docker-in-Docker build environments                         | [Run Docker-in-Docker in a Build stage](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/manage-dependencies/run-docker-in-docker-in-a-ci-stage)                                                            |
| Implement and troubleshoot dependency caching mechanisms                                 | [Cache Intelligence](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/caching-ci-data/cache-intelligence)                                                                                                   |
| **3. Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines**                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Develop and troubleshoot pipeline triggers                                               | [Troubleshoot failed triggers](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/triggers/troubleshoot-registered-triggers/)                                                                                                      |
| Optimize CI pipeline efficiency and speed                                                | [Optimization strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/prep-ci-pipeline-components/#optimization-strategies)                                                                            |
| **4. Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines**                                  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Implement secrets management and ensure secure build processes                           | [Use secrets managers](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/get-started/tutorials/add-secrets-manager)                                                                                                               |
| Adhere to the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) in CI/CD                               | [Roles and resource groups work together](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/role-based-access-control/add-manage-roles/#roles-and-resource-groups-work-together)                                                  |
| **5. Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI**                                                 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Implement and manage Test Intelligence for optimizing testing                            | [Test Intelligence overview](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/run-tests/ti-overview)                                                                                                        |
| Understand and troubleshoot test visualization and metrics                               | [View test reports and test selection](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/run-tests/viewing-tests/#results-from-test-steps-with-test-intelligence)                                            |
| **6. Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries**                      |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Navigate issues with custom binary installations on Delegates                            | [Install a delegate with third-party tool custom binaries](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/delegates/install-delegates/install-a-delegate-with-3-rd-party-tool-custom-binaries/)                                |
| Manage custom build tools and dependencies                                               | [Dependency management strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/manage-dependencies/dependency-mgmt-strategies/)                                                                        |
| **7. Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies**                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Implement multilayer caching for pipeline optimizations                                  | [Multilayer caching](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/caching-ci-data/multilayer-caching/)                                                                                                  |
| Utilize matrix and looping strategies for test execution                                 | [Use looping strategies](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/pipelines/looping-strategies/looping-strategies-matrix-repeat-and-parallelism/)                                                                        |
| **8. Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines**                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Ensure effective communication between Delegates, Harness Manager, and external services | [Communication with Harness Manager](https://developer.harness.io/docs/platform/delegates/delegate-concepts/delegate-overview/#communication-with-harness-manager)                                                         |
| Troubleshoot connectivity issues in webhook triggers and pipeline steps                  | [Troubleshoot CI](https://developer.harness.io/docs/category/troubleshoot-harness-ci)                                                                                                                                      |
| **9. Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures**                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Manage and troubleshoot CI in Kubernetes build infrastructures                           | [Set up a Kubernetes cluster build infrastructure](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/k8s-build-infrastructure/set-up-a-kubernetes-cluster-build-infrastructure/) |
| Implement and manage CI pipelines for MacOS and Windows build environments               | [Set up a local runner build infrastructure](https://developer.harness.io/docs/continuous-integration/use-ci/set-up-build-infrastructure/define-a-docker-build-infrastructure/)                                            |

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/continuous-integration-architect)

#### Exam Details

The Continuous Integration Architect exam tests your knowledge and skills of the Harness Continuous Integration module.

**Prerequisites**

* Basic terminal skills
* Advanced understanding of on-premise or cloud architecture
* This exam builds upon the [Continuous Integration Admin](/university/readme/continuous-integration.md)

**Exam Details**

| Exam Type          | Duration    |
| ------------------ | ----------- |
| **Knowledge Exam** | 90 minutes  |
| **Hands On Exam**  | 120 minutes |

| Covered Domain                                                  | % of Coverage |
| --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
| 1. Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates          | 12%           |
| 2. Managing Build Environments and Dependencies                 | 12%           |
| 3. Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines                       | 12%           |
| 4. Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines             | 12%           |
| 5. Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI                            | 12%           |
| 6. Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries | 12%           |
| 7. Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies           | 12%           |
| 8. Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines         | 8%            |
| 9. Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures      | 8%            |

**Exam Objectives**

<details>

<summary>List of Objectives</summary>

The following is a detailed list of exam objectives:

| #     | Objective                                                                                |
| ----- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **1** | **Understanding and Troubleshooting Harness Delegates**                                  |
| 1.1   | Manage and troubleshoot Kubernetes Delegates                                             |
| 1.2   | Implement and troubleshoot networking and connectivity issues                            |
| **2** | **Managing Build Environments and Dependencies**                                         |
| 2.1   | Navigate and solve issues in Docker-in-Docker build environments                         |
| 2.2   | Implement and troubleshoot dependency caching mechanisms                                 |
| **3** | **Implementing and Managing CI Pipelines**                                               |
| 3.1   | Develop and troubleshoot pipeline triggers                                               |
| 3.2   | Optimize CI pipeline efficiency and speed                                                |
| **4** | **Ensuring Security and Compliance in CI Pipelines**                                     |
| 4.1   | Implement secrets management and ensure secure build processes                           |
| 4.2   | Adhere to the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) in CI/CD                               |
| **5** | **Utilizing Test Intelligence in CI**                                                    |
| 5.1   | Implement and manage Test Intelligence for optimizing testing                            |
| 5.2   | Understand and troubleshoot test visualization and metrics                               |
| **6** | **Managing and Troubleshooting Custom Build Tools and Binaries**                         |
| 6.1   | Navigate issues with custom binary installations on Delegates                            |
| 6.2   | Manage custom build tools and dependencies                                               |
| **7** | **Implementing Pipeline Optimizations and Strategies**                                   |
| 7.1   | Implement multilayer caching for pipeline optimizations                                  |
| 7.2   | Utilize matrix and looping strategies for test execution                                 |
| **8** | **Managing Connectivity and Networking in CI Pipelines**                                 |
| 8.1   | Ensure effective communication between Delegates, Harness Manager, and external services |
| 8.2   | Troubleshoot connectivity issues in webhook triggers and pipeline steps                  |
| **9** | **Implementing and Managing CI in Diverse Infrastructures**                              |
| 9.1   | Manage and troubleshoot CI in Kubernetes build infrastructures                           |
| 9.2   | Implement and manage CI pipelines for MacOS and Windows build environments               |

</details>

**Next Steps**

The Continuous Integration Architect exam can start immediately after registering. Please allow up to 90 mins for the knowledge exam and up to 2 hours for the hands-on exam.

1. Create an account in Harness University
2. Register for an exam. There is a $50 fee for the exam
3. Review the [instructions for the Hands-on Exam](/university/readme/instructions.md)
4. Take the exams
   1. There will be a knowledge and hands-on portion.

[**Register for Exam**](https://university-registration.harness.io/continuous-integration-architect)
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}