Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government Achieves IL5 Certification

Turnkey application platform empowers government agencies to accelerate innovation while meeting stringent security requirements

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced that Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government has attained Department of Defense (DoD) Impact Level 5 (IL5) certification. With IL5 certification, government agencies and highly-regulated industries can now use Azure Red Hat OpenShift as a platform for building, deploying and running containerized applications at scale while simultaneously addressing key security and compliance requirements for highly-sensitive workloads.

DoD IL5 is a cybersecurity classification that defines the highest level of security controls required for sensitive, mission-critical information and systems in cloud environments. IL5 protects data categorized as: Higher sensitivity Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI); Unclassified National Security Systems (NSS); and Mission-critical information. Achieving IL5 indicates that Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government has successfully undergone rigorous audits of critical security controls and provides a multi-layered security framework that includes continuous patching, scanning processes and remediating vulnerabilities to help safeguards sensitive information in the cloud.

Launched in 2023, Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government provides a turnkey application platform designed to support how U.S. government agencies work in a digital world. The co-developed and jointly-operated service provides agencies with greater confidence in the access controls around their data, that the location of the data meets regulatory controls and their ability to address known security vulnerabilities with applicable fixes. With Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Azure Government agencies can focus on application innovation, rather than managing complex underlying infrastructure.

The IL5 certification follows Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Azure Government achieving IL4 certification in July 2024. Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Azure Government has also achieved key IT security and regulatory certifications, including:

• FedRAMP High Authorization
• International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1075 forms
• Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)

Supporting Quotes
Chris Smith, vice president, North American Government Sales, Red Hat
“Government agencies share the same core mission as any enterprise IT: delivering high-quality innovation to end-users quickly. However, managing highly sensitive government data often creates unique operational hurdles. Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government helps solve this challenge, allowing agencies to accelerate the deployment of cloud-native applications without compromising stringent, lifecycle-wide security. By deepening our collaboration with Microsoft, we give public sector organizations the ultimate flexibility and choice to run mission-critical workloads in the environment that best fits their unique regulatory needs.”

Leigh Madden, vice president, National Security, Microsoft
"Achieving Department of Defense Impact Level 5 certification for Azure Red Hat OpenShift for Microsoft Azure Government represents a significant milestone in our commitment to supporting mission-critical government workloads. This certification enables federal agencies to innovate faster with containerized applications while meeting the highest security standards for sensitive data. Our expanded regional availability further demonstrates Microsoft's dedication to providing secure, compliant cloud services where government agencies need them most."

Additional Resources

• Learn more about Microsoft Azure Red Hat OpenShift
• Learn more about Microsoft Azure’s compliance scope of services

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Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver reliable and high-performing Linux, hybrid cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Red Hat helps customers integrate new and existing IT applications, develop cloud-native applications, standardize on our industry-leading operating system, and automate, secure, and manage complex environments. Award-winning support, training, and consulting services make Red Hat a trusted adviser to the Fortune 500. As a strategic partner to cloud providers, system integrators, application vendors, customers, and open source communities, Red Hat can help organizations prepare for the digital future.

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