diff --git a/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml b/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml
deleted file mode 120000
index b3651566cb..0000000000
--- a/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../../../examples/common-secrets/app-tls-secret-app.example.com.yaml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/secure-app.yaml b/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/secure-app.yaml
index ccdd99e2e0..0ec3adbc5f 100644
--- a/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/secure-app.yaml
+++ b/tests/data/transport-server-backup-service/standard/secure-app.yaml
@@ -65,3 +65,11 @@ data:
         return 200 "hello from pod $hostname\n";
       }
     }
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Secret
+metadata:
+  name: app-tls-secret
+data:
+  tls.crt: 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
+  tls.key: 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
diff --git a/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml b/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml
deleted file mode 120000
index b3651566cb..0000000000
--- a/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-../../../../examples/common-secrets/app-tls-secret-app.example.com.yaml
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/secure-app.yaml b/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/secure-app.yaml
index ccdd99e2e0..0ec3adbc5f 100644
--- a/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/secure-app.yaml
+++ b/tests/data/transport-server-tls-passthrough/standard/secure-app.yaml
@@ -65,3 +65,11 @@ data:
         return 200 "hello from pod $hostname\n";
       }
     }
+---
+apiVersion: v1
+kind: Secret
+metadata:
+  name: app-tls-secret
+data:
+  tls.crt: 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
+  tls.key: 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
diff --git a/tests/suite/test_transport_server_backup_service.py b/tests/suite/test_transport_server_backup_service.py
index c766fdfb43..cde078824c 100644
--- a/tests/suite/test_transport_server_backup_service.py
+++ b/tests/suite/test_transport_server_backup_service.py
@@ -131,10 +131,6 @@ def transport_server_tls_passthrough_setup(
     :return TransportServerTlsSetup:
     """
     print("------------------------- Deploy Transport Server with tls passthrough -----------------------------------")
-    # deploy secret
-    create_items_from_yaml(
-        kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/{request.param['example']}/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml", test_namespace
-    )
     # deploy secure_app
     secure_app_file = f"{TEST_DATA}/{request.param['example']}/standard/secure-app.yaml"
     create_items_from_yaml(kube_apis, secure_app_file, test_namespace)
diff --git a/tests/suite/test_ts_tls_passthrough.py b/tests/suite/test_ts_tls_passthrough.py
index 7bc0a0b810..14dd36fc67 100644
--- a/tests/suite/test_ts_tls_passthrough.py
+++ b/tests/suite/test_ts_tls_passthrough.py
@@ -56,10 +56,6 @@ def transport_server_tls_passthrough_setup(
     :return TransportServerTlsSetup:
     """
     print("------------------------- Deploy Transport Server with tls passthrough -----------------------------------")
-    # deploy secret
-    create_items_from_yaml(
-        kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/{request.param['example']}/standard/app-tls-secret.yaml", test_namespace
-    )
     # deploy secure_app
     secure_app_file = f"{TEST_DATA}/{request.param['example']}/standard/secure-app.yaml"
     create_items_from_yaml(kube_apis, secure_app_file, test_namespace)
diff --git a/tests/suite/test_v_s_route_upstream_tls.py b/tests/suite/test_v_s_route_upstream_tls.py
index 14c5078cf6..8b39efc0de 100644
--- a/tests/suite/test_v_s_route_upstream_tls.py
+++ b/tests/suite/test_v_s_route_upstream_tls.py
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@ def v_s_route_secure_app_setup(request, kube_apis, v_s_route_setup) -> None:
         kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/common/app/vsr/secure/multiple.yaml", v_s_route_setup.route_m.namespace
     )
 
-    create_items_from_yaml(
-        kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/common/app/vsr/secure/secret.yaml", v_s_route_setup.route_s.namespace
-    )
     create_items_from_yaml(
         kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/common/app/vsr/secure/single.yaml", v_s_route_setup.route_s.namespace
     )
@@ -58,9 +55,6 @@ def fin():
             delete_items_from_yaml(
                 kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/common/app/vsr/secure/single.yaml", v_s_route_setup.route_s.namespace
             )
-            delete_items_from_yaml(
-                kube_apis, f"{TEST_DATA}/common/app/vsr/secure/secret.yaml", v_s_route_setup.route_s.namespace
-            )
 
     request.addfinalizer(fin)