NHN Cloud Associate
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
The NHN Cloud Associate credential is aimed at cloud engineers, platform operators, and solution architects who work with NHN Cloud's integrated cloud service portfolio. NHN Cloud describes itself as a cloud platform offering compute, container, network, storage, database, monitoring, hybrid and private cloud, game, security, content delivery, notification, AI, machine learning, application, search, data and analytics, dev tools, management, bill, collaboration, contact center, and governance and audit service categories. Candidates should be comfortable with core infrastructure concepts and with the service names and purposes that appear in the NHN Cloud catalog, because the exam domains - Compute, Container, Network, Storage, and Database - map directly onto that catalog. For example, the Compute category lists Instance, GPU Instance, Cloud Functions, Instance Template, Image, Image Builder, Auto Scale, and Virtual Desktop; the Container category lists NHN Kubernetes Service (NKS), NHN Container Registry (NCR), and NHN Container Service (NCS); the Network category spans VPC, Network Interface, Flow Log, Floating IP, Network ACL, Security Groups, Load Balancer, Load Balancer (DSR), NAT Instance, Transit Hub, Internet Gateway, Peering Gateway, Colocation Gateway, NAT Gateway, VPN Gateway, Service Gateway, Traffic Mirroring, Private DNS, DNS Plus, and Direct Connect; the Storage category covers Block Storage, NAS, NAS (offline), NAS for BigData, Object Storage, Backup, Data Transporter, and Storage Gateway; and the Database category includes RDS for MySQL, RDS for PostgreSQL, RDS for MariaDB, RDS for MS-SQL, EasyCache, the various DBMS Instances, and Database Migration Service. Preparation should combine hands-on console practice with reading the official service descriptions, so that you can distinguish similar services (for example, NAT Instance versus NAT Gateway, or NAS versus Object Storage) and explain when each is appropriate. Verify current exam mechanics, fees, and scheduling directly with the provider, since those details are not published in the material reviewed here.
What you'll study
About NHN Cloud Associate preparation
What does the NHN Cloud Associate exam cover?
The published domain breakdown is Compute, Container, Network, Storage, and Database, each weighted at 20 percent. Within those domains you should know the individual services NHN Cloud lists, such as Instance and Auto Scale, NKS and NCR, VPC and Load Balancer, Block Storage and Object Storage, and RDS for MySQL and EasyCache.
How many questions are on the exam and how long is it?
Those figures are not stated in the source material reviewed for this page, so they are marked for review rather than guessed. Confirm the item count, time limit, and delivery format with NHN Cloud or the testing provider before you book a slot, and plan your pacing only once you have the official numbers.
What score do I need to pass, and what does the exam cost?
The passing score and fee are not specified in the available source text, so no figure is given here. Treat any number you see elsewhere as unverified until you confirm it with the provider. Budget for a possible retake as well, since retake policy and validity period are likewise unconfirmed.
How difficult is the exam for someone new to NHN Cloud?
The hardest part is usually the breadth of the service catalog and the near-duplicate names. Distinguishing NAT Instance from NAT Gateway, NAS from Object Storage, or RDS from the standalone DBMS Instances requires reading each service description rather than general cloud knowledge. Candidates with hands-on console time generally find the domain concepts easier.
Which domain should I study first?
Start with Compute and Network, because most other services assume them. Instance, Network Interface, VPC, Security Groups, and Floating IP explain how workloads are placed and reached. Then move to Storage and Database, and finish with Container, where NKS, NCR, and NCS build on the networking and storage concepts you already covered.
What are the most common mistakes candidates make?
Two recur. First, memorizing marketing names without knowing what each service actually does, which fails on scenario questions. Second, confusing managed and self-managed options, for example RDS for MySQL versus MySQL Instance, or EasyCache versus Valkey Instance. Read the one-line service descriptions closely and note which ones are marked ALPHA, BETA, or UPDATE.
Are there any free services or features I should know about?
Yes. Basic Security is described as a free security service provided to all customers using the NHN Cloud Korea region, and CloudTrail is described as a free service that collects activity logs and events from the console and API. These are easy marks if you have read the catalog, and easy misses if you only studied paid infrastructure services.
How should I prepare in the final week?
Re-read the service descriptions for all five domains and write one sentence on when to use each service. Then practice explaining trade-offs aloud, such as Load Balancer versus Load Balancer (DSR), or Peering Gateway versus Transit Hub. Hands-on console time with Instance, VPC, Block Storage, and RDS reinforces the terminology better than rereading notes.
Does this page or the exam have official NHN Cloud affiliation?
No. This page is independent study material and makes no claim of official affiliation with NHN Cloud. Always verify exam mechanics, fees, scheduling, and any policy details directly with NHN Cloud or the authorized testing provider, since those specifics are outside what the reviewed source material states.