CIQ recently announced a new version of Rocky Linux with an awkward name but plenty of extra security. The name, Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened, certainly doesn’t roll off the tongue, but when you read about what the team has done to this distribution, the name won't matter.

Here's the deal. Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened is delivered via a secure supply chain and packages, pre-configured security, code-level hardening that blocks common exploits, automated security updates, enhanced threat detection, and support. This is all done while maintaining API and ABI compatibility with the usual standards applied to Enterprise Linux.

Other important features of Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened include system-level hardening, accelerated risk management, strong access controls, and simple deployment.

According to Gregory Kurtzer, CEO of CIQ, “The creation of Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened was a direct result of the countless conversations I have had with security-concerned IT executives.” He continues, “Organizations struggle to consistently thwart security attacks across their Linux environments where even a single exploit poses a major risk. Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened makes it harder for malicious attackers to break into critical software infrastructure by providing a more secure foundation and defense in depth while maintaining compatibility with the Enterprise Linux standard.”

You can read more and sign up for a technical preview on the official Rocky Linux from CIQ – Hardened site.