Search the Community

Ubuntu Pro is a premium subscription service offered by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, which provides additional security and compliance features aimed at businesses and professional users. It extends the capabilities of the standard, free Ubuntu operating system with several key enhancements: Extended Security Maintenance Ubuntu Pro offers Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) that extends the security updates and patches for Ubuntu releases beyond the typical five-year support period provided by the regular Ubuntu. This can go up to 10 years, ensuring longer protection for mission-critical applications. Livepatch Service The Livepatch service allows for kernel updates to be applied without rebooting the system, minimizing downtime and disruption for critical systems. This feature is particularly valuable in enterprise environments where uptime is crucial. Security and Compliance Ubuntu Pro includes additional security and compliance certifications that are necessary for various industries, including finance and healthcare. It also comes with FIPS 140-2 certified cryptographic packages, which are required in many governmental and financial sectors. Expanded Package Support Subscribers gain access to a broader range of software packages and updates, including thousands of additional open source applications and utilities that are supported with security updates. Enhanced Support Ubuntu Pro subscribers have access to Canonical’s knowledge base and 24/7 support, offering an extra layer of assistance for their operations, which is especially useful for organizations without extensive in-house Linux expertise. Patch and Landscape Management Ubuntu Pro integrates with Landscape, Canonical’s systems management tool, which helps administrators manage, monitor, and update large-scale deployments of Ubuntu desktops, servers, and cloud instances efficiently. Cloud and Virtual Machine Friendly Ubuntu Pro is available for desktops, servers, and cloud environments, and it supports major cloud platforms, making it a flexible choice for organizations operating in multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. Here’s a comparison between Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro, highlighting their primary differences: FeatureUbuntuUbuntu ProCostFreeSubscription-basedAvailabilityOpen source, available to anyoneAvailable to anyone, with added features for a feeSecurity UpdatesStandard security updatesExtended security updates for up to 10 yearsKernel UpdatesRegular kernel updatesLivepatch for real-time kernel updates without rebootingSupportCommunity support, optional professional supportComprehensive professional support includedCertificationLimited hardware and software certificationWider range of certified hardware and integrated softwareComplianceBasicCompliance features for common standards and regulationsApplicationsAccess to free software via Ubuntu repositoriesAccess to additional commercial software in Ubuntu Pro repositoriesManagement FeaturesBasic system management toolsAdvanced management tools including Landscape for easier automation and orchestrationTarget AudienceGeneral use, developers, enthusiastsEnterprises, businesses, and professionals requiring advanced security and compliance Ubuntu Pro offers more extensive support and advanced features designed for enterprise use, whereas the regular version of Ubuntu is well-suited for general users, developers, and tech enthusiasts. The choice between them largely depends on the user’s needs for support, security, and compliance. The reason some security-related packages are only available in Ubuntu Pro, even if you upgrade to the latest version of Ubuntu like 22.x, is primarily due to the additional enterprise-focused features and extended security support offered by Ubuntu Pro. Here are the key reasons for this differentiation: Extended Security Maintenance (ESM): Ubuntu Pro provides Extended Security Maintenance which includes security updates and patches for a longer period (up to 10 years) compared to the standard 5 years in the free version. This extended support covers more packages and resolves vulnerabilities that may affect older software still in use in enterprise environments. Livepatch Service: Ubuntu Pro offers the Livepatch service, which allows users to apply critical kernel security patches without rebooting the system. This service is crucial for organizations that require high uptime and cannot afford the disruption of a reboot after every kernel update. Compliance and Certification: Enterprises often need to comply with various regulatory standards (like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc.) which require specific security features and configurations. Ubuntu Pro includes tools and packages that help in maintaining compliance with these standards, which might not be part of the standard Ubuntu release. Commercial Software in Repositories: Ubuntu Pro users gain access to additional commercial software and proprietary tools in the Ubuntu repositories that are not available in the standard edition. These may include security tools and applications necessary for professional environments. Revenue Model: Offering advanced security features as part of Ubuntu Pro also aligns with Canonical’s business model. By providing enhanced security and support through a subscription service, Canonical can generate revenue which supports the development of both Ubuntu and Ubuntu Pro. Target Audience: Ubuntu Pro is tailored towards businesses and professional users who have higher requirements for security, support, and reliability. These users are more likely to need the advanced features offered by Ubuntu Pro and are also more capable of affording the subscription costs associated with it. The post Difference between UBUNTU and UBUNTU PRO appeared first on DevOpsSchool.com. View the full article

New subscription for IoT deployments brings security and long term compliance to the most advanced open source stack Nuremberg, Germany. 9 April 2024. Today, Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu, announced the launch of Ubuntu Pro for Devices – a comprehensive offering that simplifies security and compliance for IoT device deployments. Ubuntu Pro for Devices provides 10 years of security maintenance for Ubuntu and thousands of open source packages, such as Python, Docker, OpenJDK, OpenCV, MQTT, OpenSSL, Go, and Robot Operating System (ROS). The subscription also provides device management capabilities through Landscape, Canonical’s systems management tool, and access to Real-time Ubuntu for latency-critical use cases. Ubuntu Pro for Devices is available directly from Canonical, and from a wide range of original device manufacturers (ODMs) in Canonical’s partner ecosystem, including ADLINK, AAEON, Advantech and DFI. With this launch, Canonical is expanding its collaboration with ODMs as demand for open source security and compliance grows in the embedded space. Ubuntu Pro for Devices can be combined with Canonical’s existing Ubuntu Certified Hardware programme to offer a best in class Ubuntu experience on devices out-of-the-box and for up to 10 years. A secure open source supply chain Today, most application stacks contain open source software, but companies don’t always have the in-house expertise to secure and support their full stack. Canonical patches over 1,000 CVEs each year and provides a 10 year security maintenance commitment for popular toolchains like Python and Go, as well as commonly-used IoT software frameworks like ROS. Companies can consume secure and maintained open source with the same set of guarantees from the same vendor. “As new legislation is introduced for IoT embedded devices, it is crucial that our customers have a means to securely maintain the operating system along with commonly used applications and dependencies”, said Ethan Chen, General Manager of the Edge Computing Platforms BU at ADLINK. “Ubuntu Pro ensures that IoT devices receive reliable security patches from a trusted source”. Streamlined compliance The regulatory landscape is evolving, with the EU Cyber Resilience Act and the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark resulting in a growing need for reliable, long-term access to software security fixes. Ubuntu Pro provides access to critical vulnerability fixes for most of the open source packages enterprises use, providing security coverage for developers and peace of mind for CISOs. “Many of our customers from across different sectors are using computer vision software that requires regulatory approval. In particular, the latest US regulation makes it important to provide timely CVE fixes for all of the components used in our products. Thanks to Ubuntu Pro for Devices, this is now covered”, said Jason Huang, Director of AAEON’s UP Division. Ubuntu Pro for Devices offers more than security patching. It also provides certified modules and hardening profiles that enable organisations to achieve compliance with standards such as FIPS, HIPAA, PCI-DSS and others. “Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution. Many of our public sector customers in the US need FIPS compliance, and Ubuntu Pro for Devices is a perfect solution for them”, said Joe Chen, Director at Advantech. Cost-effective and convenient fleet management Remote device management is critical for IoT, as a lot of devices are physically inaccessible. Ubuntu Pro for Devices includes device management with Landscape, which automates security patching and audits across Ubuntu estates. Landscape allows administrators to manage their Ubuntu instances from a single portal. They can securely authenticate and add new devices to their IoT fleet, manage software versions and configurations, and monitor device performance and compliance. By grouping multiple devices together, administrators can perform these operations on numerous devices simultaneously, saving both time and effort. “DFI leverages virtualisation technology to introduce a robust Workload Consolidation platform integrated with our embedded solutions for EV charging stations and other cutting-edge industrial applications. With the ability to use Landscape to manage devices built with DFI boards, we can now provide more reliable solutions to our customers with 10 years of security updates and streamlined fleet maintenance”, said Jarry Chang, DFI Product Center General Manager. Learn more Download our datasheet to learn about the capabilities offered in Ubuntu Pro for Devices. To discuss your use case, contact Canonical or stop by our booth [4-354, Hall 4] at Embedded World in Nuremberg this week. View the full article