Organizations that standardize on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) see tangible improvements in how their security teams operate and how quickly they can respond to threats.

According to IDC research on customers using RHEL:

• Security teams were 33% more efficient.
• Security updates were completed 46% faster.
• Responses to security vulnerabilities were 47% faster.

These gains come from several factors built into RHEL:

• Security by design: RHEL is a hardened operating system shaped by more than 30 years of Linux experience and used by over 90% of Fortune 500 organizations.
• Secure defaults and profiles: Built-in security profiles and secure-by-default configurations help you apply best-practice baselines at build time, reducing manual work and human error.
• Automation and tooling: Capabilities like Red Hat Lightspeed help you scan for CVEs, prioritize remediation, audit compliance, and trigger automated actions.
• Long-term support: RHEL provides 10 years of updates and support for major releases, plus access to the Red Hat Customer Portal and Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT).

In practice, this means your teams spend less time firefighting and more time proactively managing risk, while still meeting evolving compliance and regulatory requirements.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is designed to help you build security into your environment from development through operations, with a strong focus on compliance.

1. Security-focused software development lifecycle

• Red Hat aligns its development practices with the NIST Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF), OWASP guidance, and relevant ISO standards.
• Red Hat Product Security continuously improves productization pipelines and supports the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of Red Hat products.
• This is especially important for customers in highly regulated industries that require software supply chain assurance before deployment.

2. Security built into production images

• RHEL offers security profiles and baselines that let you apply secure configurations at build time.
• These baselines are based on best practices and help ensure new systems meet corporate security policies and compliance requirements from day one.
• This approach reduces risk and cuts down on manual, error-prone configuration work after deployment.

3. Support for regional and industry compliance

• With 100+ offices in more than 40 countries, Red Hat invests in meeting diverse regional compliance mandates.
• RHEL has achieved a wide range of validations and certifications to help organizations align with strict global security requirements.

4. Proactive risk and compliance management

• Red Hat Lightspeed (integrated with RHEL) helps you:
• Scan for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs).
• Prioritize remediation based on risk type, severity, and business impact.
• Audit regulatory compliance using OpenSCAP policies.
• Correct noncompliant systems and generate compliance reports.
• Detect active malware signatures across hybrid cloud environments.

Together, these capabilities help you reimagine your Linux security posture—from how software is built, to how systems are configured, to how you maintain compliance over time.

Red Hat backs Red Hat Enterprise Linux with long-term support, active threat response, and deep involvement in the global security community.

1. Long-term updates and expert guidance

• 10 years of updates and support for major RHEL releases, helping you plan long-lived, stable environments.
• Access to the Red Hat Customer Portal for up-to-date information on vulnerabilities and recommended mitigation steps.
• The Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) helps you understand the impact of emerging CVEs and guides remediation.

2. Efficient deployment and security operations

• RHEL’s Image mode uses a container-native approach to building, deploying, and managing the OS.
• This lets your teams apply familiar container security tools—scanning, validation, cryptography, and attestation—directly to the OS base image.
• The result is simpler, more consistent security operations and reduced burden on security and infrastructure teams.

3. Global security collaboration and CVE leadership

• Red Hat participates in organizations such as FIRST, OpenSSF, and Oasis, and contributes to projects like OpenSCAP and OSV.dev.
• Red Hat is 1 of only 6 organizations globally with a special Root role in the CVE program and also acts as a CVE Numbering Authority (CNA).
• This means Red Hat can assign CVE IDs and publish CVE records, often being involved from the earliest stages of vulnerability discovery and remediation.

4. Open source community benefits

• Red Hat’s security work is shared with the broader Linux community, not just RHEL customers.
• Code is open for inspection, audit, review, and contribution, supporting transparent and collaborative security practices.

For your organization, this translates into a Linux platform that is continuously monitored, actively improved, and supported by a global network of security experts and partners.