Ubuntu on Azure
Optimize your Ubuntu experience in Azure, delivered in partnership with Canonical.
Overview
Maximize performance and security for your apps
Enhance the performance, security, and flexibility of your business-critical applications with an Azure-optimized kernel, automatic patching and updates, and flexible pricing options.
- Ubuntu on Azure runs on an Azure-optimized kernel that provides faster boot speed, better runtime performance, and advanced device support. All images come with improved device drivers such as Accelerated Networking and GPUs on Azure, offering consistent ultra-low network latency and maximizing virtual machine performance.
- Ubuntu on Azure offers automatic security patches and updates for key infrastructure and software components. Ubuntu Pro provides advanced features such as kernel live patching—delivering kernel updates in real time without the need for reboot. The Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) offered by Ubuntu tracks and patches all high and critical Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) for the entire collection of software packages delivered with Ubuntu.
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Migration Assessment is a comprehensive consulting package to assess your readiness and help you plan your enterprise app modernization and migration to Azure and AKS. Start with the one-week assessment and then move on to build a modernization and migration implementation plan.
Features
Ubuntu on Azure
Ubuntu LTS Server
A genuine Ubuntu image that offers an Azure-optimized kernel designed for any workload—with security patches and updates for the kernel and key infrastructure components, open-source application components, and five-year support.
Ubuntu Pro for Azure
A premium image optimized for production workloads running in Azure—with kernel live patching and enhanced stability, security, and compliance features—covering 26,000 open-source application components, and offering 10-year support.
Ubuntu Pro FIPS for Azure
The first and only FIPS 140-2 and CC-EAL certified image—built on Ubuntu Pro for Azure—that allows customers to meet government requirements and offers security hardening tools to enable runtime verification and rehardening.
Ubuntu-based Kubernetes
Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), a secure and fully managed Kubernetes service, offering seamless deployment and management of containerized apps across hybrid and multicloud environments, enabled by Azure Arc.
Resources
Resources to get started with Ubuntu on Azure
Frequently asked questions
- Published by Canonical, Ubuntu is an open-source Linux distribution for servers, desktops, cloud, and IoT. Ubuntu offers premium images optimized for the public cloud with improved performance, enhanced security, and extended support. Ubuntu is used and trusted by millions of developers to build applications and innovate.
-
The benefits of Ubuntu on Azure include:
- An Azure-optimized kernel and user space components—built from the latest releases.
- Enhanced security and compliance features with Ubuntu Pro and Pro FIPS for Azure.
- The broadest open-source application portfolio—Ubuntu ships over 30,000 Debian packages.
- Use Ubuntu on Azure if you're looking for features such as: 5 years of free LTS security maintenance that can be extended to 10 years, full-stack 24-hour, 7-days-a-week support from Canonical, certified compliance for FIPS and security hardening tools, and enhanced security such as kernel live patching and Extended Security Maintenance offered by Canonical.
-
Ubuntu images are available through the Azure Marketplace. It's easy to get started.
Next steps
Choose the Azure account that’s right for you
Get started with Ubuntu on Azure today. Pay as you go or try Azure free for up to 30 days. There’s no upfront commitment—cancel anytime.
[1] IDC Business Value White Paper sponsored by Microsoft, The Business Value of Ubuntu on Microsoft Azure, Michele Rosen, Adam Reeves, Matthew Marden, January 2025.
Explore Azure Portal 
