Azure Linux Now Supports AKS Long-Term Support (LTS) Starting with Kubernetes v1.28+
What’s New Managing Kubernetes upgrades can be a challenge for many organizations. The fast-paced release cycle requires frequent cluster updates, which can be time-consuming, carry operational risks, and require repeated validation of workloads and infrastructure. To address this, in April of this year, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) introduced Long-Term Support (LTS) on every AKS version — beginning with Kubernetes version 1.28. With AKS LTS, every community-released version of Kubernetes receives an extended support window of an additional year, giving customers more time to test, validate, and adopt new versions at a pace that suits their business needs. The Azure Linux team is excited to announce that Azure Linux now also supports AKS LTS starting with Kubernetes version 1.28 and above. This means you can now pair a stable, enterprise-grade node operating system with the extended lifecycle benefits of AKS LTS — providing a consistent, secure, and well-maintained platform for your container workloads. Benefits of Azure Linux with your AKS LTS Clusters Secure by Design: Azure Linux is built from source using Microsoft’s trusted pipelines, with a minimal package set that reduces the attack surface. It is FIPS-compliant and meets CIS Level 1 benchmarks. Operational Stability: With AKS LTS, each version is supported for two years, reducing upgrade frequency and providing a predictable, stable platform for mission-critical workloads. Reliable Updates: Every package update is validated by both the Azure Linux and AKS teams, running through a full suite of tests to prevent regressions and minimize disruptions. Broad Compatibility: Azure Linux supports AKS extensions, add-ons, and open-source projects. It works seamlessly with existing Linux based containers and includes the upstream containerd runtime. Advanced Isolation: It is the only OS on AKS that supports pod sandboxing, enabling compute isolation between pods for enhanced security. Seamless Migration: Customers can migrate from other distributions to Azure Linux nodepools in-place without recreating clusters, simplifying the process. Getting Started Getting started with Azure Linux on AKS LTS is simple and can be done with a single command. See full documentation on getting started with AKS Long-term Support here. Please note that when enabling LTS on a new Azure Linux cluster you will need to specify --os-sku AzureLinux. Considerations LTS is available on the Premium tier. Refer to the Premium tier pricing for more information. Some add-ons and features might not support Kubernetes versions outside upstream community support windows. View unsupported add-ons and features here. Please note Azure Linux 2.0 is the default node OS for AKS versions v1.27 to v1.31 during both Standard and Long-Term Support. However, Azure Linux 2.0 will reach End of Life during the LTS period of AKS v1.28–v1.31. To maintain support and security updates, customers running Azure Linux 2.0 on AKS v1.28–v1.31 LTS are requested to migrate to Azure Linux 3.0 by November 2025. Azure Linux 3.0 has been validated to support AKS Kubernetes v1.28–v1.31. Before Azure Linux 2.0 goes EoL, AKS will offer a feature to facilitate an in-place migration from Azure Linux 2.0 to 3.0 via a node pool update command. For feature availability and updates, see GitHub issue. After November 2025 Azure Linux 2.0 will no longer receive updates, security patches, or support, which may put your systems at risk. AKS version Azure Linux version during AKS Standard Support Azure Linux version during AKS Long-Term Support 1.27 Azure Linux 2.0 Azure Linux 2.0 1.28 - 1.31 Azure Linux 2.0 Azure Linux 2.0 (migrate to 3.0 by Nov 2025) 1.32+ Azure Linux 3.0 Azure Linux 3.0 For more information on the Azure Linux Container Host support lifecycle see here. How to Keep in Touch with the Azure Linux Team: For updates, feedback, and feature requests related to Azure Linux, there are a few ways to stay connected to the team: We have a public community call every other month for Azure Linux users to come together to ask questions, share learnings, and get updates. Join the next community call on July 24 th at 8AM PST: here Partners with support questions can reach out to AzureLinuxISV@microsoft.comUbuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS on Azure: Secure, compliant, and optimized for regulated industries
Organizations across government (including local and federal agencies and their contractors), finance, healthcare, and other regulated industries running workloads on Microsoft Azure now have a streamlined path to meet rigorous FIPS 140-3 compliance requirements. Canonical is pleased to announce the availability of Ubuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS on the Azure Marketplace, featuring newly certified cryptographic modules. This offering extends the stability and comprehensive security features of Ubuntu Pro, tailored for state agencies, federal contractors, and industries requiring a FIPS-validated foundation on Azure. It provides the enterprise-grade Ubuntu experience, optimized for performance on Azure in collaboration with Microsoft, and enhanced with critical compliance capabilities. For instance, if you are building a Software as a Service (SaaS) application on Azure that requires FedRAMP authorization, utilizing Ubuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS can help you meet specific controls like SC-13 (Cryptographic Protection), as FIPS 140-3 validated modules are a foundational requirement. This significantly streamlines your path to achieving FedRAMP compliance. What is FIPS 140-3 and why does it matter? FIPS 140-3 is the latest iteration of the benchmark U.S. government standard for validating cryptographic module implementations, superseding FIPS 140-2. Managed by NIST, it's essential for federal agencies and contractors and is a recognized best practice in many regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Using FIPS-validated components helps ensure cryptography is implemented correctly, protecting sensitive data in transit and at rest. Ubuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS includes FIPS 140-3 certified versions of the Linux kernel and key cryptographic libraries (like OpenSSL, Libgcrypt, GnuTLS) pre-enabled, which are drop-in replacements for the standard packages, greatly simplifying deployment for compliance needs. The importance of security updates (fips-updates) A FIPS certificate applies to a specific module version at its validation time. Over time, new vulnerabilities (CVEs) are discovered in these certified modules. Running code with known vulnerabilities poses a significant security risk. This creates a tension between strict certification adherence and maintaining real-world security. Recognizing this, Canonical provides security fixes for the FIPS modules via the fips-updates stream, available through Ubuntu Pro. We ensure these security patches do not alter the validated cryptographic functions. This approach aligns with modern security thinking, including recent FedRAMP guidance, which acknowledges the greater risk posed by unpatched vulnerabilities compared to solely relying on the original certified binaries. Canonical strongly recommends all users enable the fips-updates repository to ensure their systems are both compliant and secure against the latest threats. FIPS 140-3 vs 140-2 The new FIPS 140-3 standard includes modern ciphers such as TLS v1.3, as well as deprecating older algorithms like MD5. If you are upgrading systems and workloads to FIPS 140-3, it will be necessary to perform rigorous testing to ensure that applications continue to work correctly. Compliance tooling Included Ubuntu Pro FIPS also includes access to Canonical's Ubuntu Security Guide (USG) tooling, which assists with automated hardening and compliance checks against benchmarks like CIS and DISA-STIG, a key requirement for FedRAMP deployments. How to get Ubuntu Pro FIPS on Azure You can leverage Ubuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS on Azure in two main ways: Deploy the Marketplace Image: Launch a new VM directly from the dedicated Ubuntu Pro FIPS 22.04 LTS listing on the Azure Marketplace. This image comes with the FIPS modules pre-enabled for immediate use. Enable on an Existing Ubuntu Pro VM: If you already have an Ubuntu Pro 22.04 LTS VM running on Azure, you can enable the FIPS modules using the Ubuntu Pro Client (pro enable fips-updates). Upgrading standard Ubuntu: If you have a standard Ubuntu 22.04 LTS VM on Azure, you first need to attach Ubuntu Pro to it. This is a straightforward process detailed in the Azure documentation for getting Ubuntu Pro. Once Pro is attached, you can enable FIPS as described above. Learn More Ubuntu Pro FIPS provides a robust, maintained, and compliant foundation for your sensitive workloads on Azure. Watch Joel Sisko from Microsoft speak with Ubuntu experts in this webinar Explore all features of Ubuntu Pro on Azure Read details on the FIPS 140-3 certification for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Official NIST certification link
