Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS)

Security Curriculum and RHCSS Certification

The increasingly critical world of IT security requires more realistic and reliable measures of technical competency so that organizations can identify those qualified to implement security solutions. To this end, Red Hat now offers Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS), a new security certification that proves advanced skills in using Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SELinux, and Red Hat Directory Server to meet the security requirements of today's enterprise environment.

Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS) Courses

RHS333 Enterprise Network Services Security (4 days)
RH423 Enterprise Directory Services and Authentication (4 days)
RHS429 SELinux Policy Administration (4 days)

These courses build on the security skills covered in the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) program, which is a prerequisite. RHCSS shares common ground with RHCA—both credentials require skills and competencies taught in RHS333 and RH423. RHCSS additionally requires the skills covered in the RH429 course.

RHCSS Endorsement Exams

EX333 Security: Network Services
EX423 Directory Services and Authentication
EX429 SELinux Policy Administration

Current RHCEs will obtain Red Hat Certified Security Specialist (RHCSS) certification upon successfully passing all three endorsement exams. Endorsement Exams, Additional Info.

Beyond RHCSS: Identity Management

Beyond the core RHCSS courses, Red Hat also offers RHS435 Red Hat Enterprise Certificate Management. This course teaches systems engineers to manage the Red Hat Certificate System, the leading open source identity management solution. Students can prove their skills by passing the EX435 Red Hat Certificate endorsement exam.

In the future, Red Hat may introduce or extend other security-related tools, and support these with additional higher-level endorsements to RHCSS similar to the Identity Management endorsement.

Additional Security Courses: other Red Hat security courses include RHS342 Developing Red Hat Firewall and VPN Solutions and RHS427 Introduction to SELinux and Red Hat Targeted Policy. Each provides intensive hands-on training for senior level system administrators, but neither is directly tied to the RHCSS track.

Endorsement Exams, Additional Information: Each course in Red Hat's security curriculum is followed by an endorsement exam on the fifth day. Endorsement exams may be taken immediately following the corresponding course or at any other time. The exams are performance-based and test skills of the job role competencies covered in the prior four days of hands-on training. Passing an Endorsement Exam earns the candidate an endorsement to his or her RHCE credential for a specific security skillset. Endorsement exams vary in length from 4 to 8 hours depending on the course, and can only be taken by current RHCEs.

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