Red Hat Announces First Performance-Based Security Certification; New Security Specialist Curriculum From Red Hat is Also First of Its Kind For Linux.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Red Hat (NASDAQ: RHAT), the world's leading provider of open source to the enterprise, today announced the availability of a new security certification for IT professionals: Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS). The announcement of the RHCSS certification is the Company's latest milestone in its "Security in a Networked World" initiative lanched in August.

Adding to its award-winning Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) program, and Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA) program, Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS) is the first performance based certification focused on security competency for enterprise Linux servers. Over the past year, Red Hat has expanded its portfolio of security solutions with the availability of SELinux in Red Hat Enteprise Linux v. 4, Red Hat Directory Server and Red Hat Certificate System. The new RHCSS program provides a complete curriculum of hands-on training courses to support these solutions.

RHCSS, as with Red Hat's other certifications, will be entirely performance based and conducted on live systems. The RHCSS requires exams for participants to prove enterprise security administration skills, including:

--Securing network services

--Setting up directory services and authentication, as well as single sign-on 

--SELinux security policy administration

--Specializations in certificate management and in configuring firewall and VPN solutions

"Deploying Linux and open source solutions is the first step in enhancing enterprise security. 'Security in a Networked World' is a company-wide initiative that not only includes technologies, but services as well. We now offer the world's first Linux security certification, and the first performance-based security certification on a server OS," said Peter Childers, vice president of Global Learning Services. "Organizations are under enormous pressure to prove that they are in control of their networks and data. Leaders will look to high-value performance-based tests of competency, such as RHCE and RHCSS, to determine who is qualified for today's information assurance roles."

Red Hat is the worlds's largest vendor of training and certification by revenue, sales, number of certified professionals, courses available and locations served. With more than 53% marketshare of all Linux training in North America, Red Hat's flagship certification, Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), is consistently named in the top 10 hottest certifications by Certification Magazine. For more information or to enroll, please visit: https://www.redhat.com/training/

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world's leading open source and Linux provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with satellite offices spanning the globe. Red Hat is leading Linux and open source solutions into the mainstream by making high quality, low cost technology accessible. Red Hat provides operating system software along with middleware, applications and management solutions. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide and through top-tier partnerships. Red Hat's open source strategy offers customers a long term plan for building infrastructures that are based on and leverage open source technologies with focus on security and ease of management. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com

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