CIS-Hardened Ubuntu Pro Minimal is optimized for automated use at scale, with a tiny package set, minimal security cross-section and with CIS hardening already applied for improved compliance and auditing. CIS benchmarks are consensus based best practices that allow to have a more secure configuration, with this image you get them applied for you, with a score of more than 80% for both cis_level1_server and cis_level2_server out of the box. For more information on Minimal Ubuntu, see here. For more information on CIS compliance, see here.

Ubuntu Pro is a cross-cloud OS optimized for Azure, security maintained for 10 years, that enables the secure use of open source software so teams can utilize the latest technologies while meeting internal governance and compliance requirements. It remains fully-compatible with Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS, but adds additional security enabled by default, as well as compliance and management tools in a form suitable for small to large-scale Linux operations.

Ubuntu Pro for Azure is the official Ubuntu image designed by Canonical (the publishers of Ubuntu) and optimized in collaboration with Microsoft for Azure. For more information, see Ubuntu Pro for Azure.

Note: CIS-Hardened Ubuntu Pro Minimal is designed for completely automated operations It includes a reduced package set, without convenience tools for interactive usage like editors, documentation or locales, but any Ubuntu package can be installed. Craft exactly the image you need by simply adding your required packages to the base image with ssh, apt and snapd. Alternatively, the unminimize tool lets you ‘rehydrate’ your image into a familiar Ubuntu Pro package set, suitable for command line interaction.

Why developers and devops choose Ubuntu Pro for Azure

• Access to security updates for 30,000+ packages including Apache Kafka, NGINX, MongoDB, Redis and PostgreSQL, integrated into normal system tools (e.g. Azure Update Manager, apt)
• Security hardening and audit tools (CIS) to establish a security baseline across your systems (and help you meet the Azure Linux Security Baseline policy)
• FIPS 140-2 certified modules (note: Ubuntu Pro with FIPS pre-enabled is available here)
• Common Criteria (CC) EAL2 provisioning packages
• Kernel Livepatch: kernel patches delivered immediately, without the need to reboot
• Optimized performance: optimized kernel, with improved boot speed, outstanding runtime performance and advanced device support
• 10-year security maintenance: Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS provides security maintenance until May 2025
• Production ready: Ubuntu is the leading Linux in the public cloud with > 50% of Linux workloads
• Developer friendly: Ubuntu is the #1 Linux for developers offering the latest library and tools to innovate with the latest technologies
• Non-stop security: Canonical publishes images on a daily basis, ensuring security is built-in from the moment an instance launches
• Portability: Ubuntu is available in all regions with content mirrors to reduce the need to go across regions or out to the Internet for updates

Choose the right Ubuntu for you