HashiCorp introduces its first lab-based certification exam for Vault professionals, allowing them to demonstrate their knowledge of configuring, managing, and monitoring a production Vault environment. The HashiCorp Certified: Vault Operations Professional exam includes multiple-choice questions and lab-based scenarios. This professional-level certification is the next step after the HashiCorp Certified: Vault Associate. Practitioners should have Linux skills, understanding of IP networking, experience with public key infrastructure (PKI), information security fundamentals, and knowledge of Docker containers. The exam costs $295, and a free 30-day trial binary is available for those without access to Vault Enterprise.