Reply Needed: Response To Product Evaluation Based On The

Reply Needed 1in Response To Product Evaluation Based On The Common Cr

Reply needed 1 in response to product evaluation based on the Common Criteria. I focused my search on operating systems, specifically analyzing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6. Since it is necessary to evaluate potential OS candidates that serve as the foundation for the software platform provided to customers, Red Hat was selected as the primary candidate. Utilizing the Common Criteria framework allows us to ensure the selected OS aligns with security and compliance standards, providing a high level of security assurance. This approach enables us to first define our security requirements, then choose an OS vendor that meets those benchmarks.

According to Nancy Mead from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Common Criteria encompass roughly 60 security functional requirements across 11 classes. This standardization permits evaluating specific requirement classes systematically, facilitating the assessment of different products’ security levels—specifically, achieving a desired Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL) (Mead, 2006). By adhering to the Common Criteria, organizations can match their security needs with industry standards and customer expectations, allowing flexibility to adapt to other operating systems if necessary.

After an extensive review process, the OS of choice was Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6. The Security Target (ST) report initiated the process by establishing the level of protection provided by Red Hat, demonstrating conformance to relevant standards, including the Protection Profile for General Purpose Operating Systems (GPOS) Version 4.2.1 and Extended Package for Secure Shell (SSH) Version 1.0 (Accuman Security, LLC, 2020). The Protection Profile outlined the threats the OS must address, while the SSH package was critical for remote access—providing cryptographic protocols in compliance with industry standards.

Critical security features such as user data protection through Discretionary Access Control (DAC) and Access Control Lists (ACLs) ensure that data remains secure in multi-user environments. Identification and authentication mechanisms in Red Hat support multiple login methods—key for securing access. These components are essential for our software platform’s security architecture. Furthermore, the Security Target detailed the assurance measures employed by Red Hat, including vulnerability analysis and lifecycle management, which are vital to continuous security assurance (Acumen Security, LLC, 2020).

The Validation Report further supported the OS qualification, describing the testing and evaluation processes that validated the security claims of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6. It confirmed that the Security Target, along with development documentation, guidance materials, vulnerability assessments, and lifecycle support, met all certification requirements. The report concluded that Red Hat met all security claims, receiving the CCRA certificate and being classified as PP (Protection Profile) compliant as of July 17, 2020 (Durrant et al., 2020). This comprehensive evaluation provided confidence that Red Hat Linux 7.6 satisfied our internal security criteria, making it an appropriate choice for our software platform.

Paper For Above instruction

Choosing the right operating system (OS) as the foundation for a secure and reliable software platform is a critical task in contemporary cybersecurity and infrastructure management. This importance is underscored by the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the essential need for compliance with internationally recognized security standards. One of the most authoritative frameworks for evaluating and certifying the security features of information technology products, including operating systems, is the Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (Common Criteria). This standard provides a systematic approach to assessing security properties, ensuring that products meet defined security requirements, and providing assurance to customers and stakeholders alike (Mead, 2006).

In evaluating potential OS candidates, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 emerged as the primary candidate within our organizational context. The decision to adopt Red Hat Linux was driven by several key factors: its compliance with pertinent security standards, the robustness of its security features, and extensive certification under the Common Criteria framework. The evaluation process involved analyzing the Security Target (ST) and Validation Report that underpin the certification credentials of the product, as well as scrutinizing its security functional requirements and assurance measures (Accuman Security, LLC, 2020). This comprehensive review ensures that the OS provides the necessary security controls and aligns with organizational policies and compliance standards.

Within the framework of the Common Criteria, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 addresses a broad range of security requirements through conformance to several key security profiles. Notably, it meets the Protection Profile for General Purpose Operating Systems (GPOS) Version 4.2.1, which specifies a set of security capabilities essential for multi-user environments, such as secure user data management, access controls, and secure operational procedures (Accuman Security, LLC, 2020). The system also complies with the Extended Package for Secure Shell (SSH), Version 1.0, which is vital for secure remote administration and customer access, providing cryptographic protocols that ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authentication during remote sessions.

Security controls embedded within Red Hat Linux, such as Discretionary Access Control (DAC) and Access Control Lists (ACLs), form the backbone of data security, providing granular control over resource access and ensuring that data confidentiality and integrity are maintained. Robust identification and authentication mechanisms, supporting various login methods—including password, key-based, and multi-factor authentication—further bolster the security posture of the OS. These features are critical in securing a platform that underpins complex applications, especially in environments with high security requirements.

The assurance measures reflected in the Security Target and Validation Report emphasize Red Hat’s commitment to security lifecycle management. These include vulnerability analysis, secure development practices, and comprehensive lifecycle support. The Validation Report confirms that the security claims made in the Security Target are valid, supported by rigorous testing, analysis, and documentation (Durrant et al., 2020). It details the evaluation activities, including vulnerability assessment, operational testing, and remediation processes, which substantiate the trustworthiness of the OS in safeguarding mission-critical applications.

Overall, the certification obtained through the Common Criteria, reflected in the CCRA Certificate issued on July 17, 2020, affirms that Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 meets or exceeds industry standards for security and assurance levels. The OS’s conformance to these standards not only reduces cybersecurity risks but also facilitates compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations. Such certification simplifies security management, audit, and compliance reporting tasks for organizations leveraging this operating system as part of their infrastructure (Durrant et al., 2020).

In conclusion, the evaluation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 based on the Common Criteria demonstrates its suitability as a secure, compliant, and trustworthy foundation for deploying enterprise-level software platforms. The certification process provides an independent validation of its security features, lifecycle processes, and adherence to best practices in cybersecurity. Organizations seeking to enhance their security postures and meet rigorous compliance requirements should consider such certified solutions as a key component of their infrastructure. Moving forward, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and adherence to security best practices will be essential to maintaining the integrity and security of systems built upon this OS.

References

• Accuman Security, LLC. (2020, June). Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.6 Security Target.
• Durrant, S., Butterworth, J., Dotson, J., Carlson, M., Bicknell, P., & Morrison, L. (2020, July 7). Validation report for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 7.6, version 1.0. Common Criteria Evaluation and Validation Scheme.
• Mead, N. (2006, August 10). The common criteria. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.
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