Canonical’s Ubuntu Core receives Microsoft Azure IoT Edge Tier 1 supported platform status

London, 20 March 2024. Canonical has announced that Ubuntu Core, its operating system optimised for the Internet of Things (IoT) and edge, has received Microsoft Azure IoT Edge Tier 1 supported platform status from Microsoft.  This collaboration brings computation, storage, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities in the cloud closer to the edge of the network. 

The power of the cloud on the edge

Azure IoT Edge enables businesses to remotely and securely deploy and manage cloud-native workloads directly on their IoT devices, at scale, and with robust observability.

With the ability to deploy and manage containerised applications on devices, teams can process data, run machine learning models, perform analytics, and carry out other tasks right at the edge of the network. This approach helps reduce latency, conserve bandwidth, and it provides more immediate insights from data near to where it is generated. It is especially useful in scenarios where real-time decision-making is crucial, where network connectivity might be unreliable, or where data privacy and security concerns demand local data processing.

The security of Ubuntu Core

Ubuntu Core is an operating system designed specifically for the IoT and embedded devices. Its range of features make it ideal for secure, reliable, and scalable deployments. Built on the power of Snaps, Ubuntu Core provides a minimal core with support for multiple architectures and types of devices. Security is baked-in with secure boot and full disk encryption, and over-the-air (OTA) transactional updates to ensure that devices are always up to date. Coupled with Canonical’s Long Term Support, which offers up to 10 years of maintenance and security updates, Ubuntu Core provides long-term peace of mind for IoT implementations.

With the introduction of the Azure IoT Edge Snaps suite, the process of deploying edge workloads to the extensive array of devices and architectures supported by Ubuntu Core has become a streamlined, seamless, experience. Combined with the ability to remotely manage and configure both the processing and system components of fleets of devices directly from Azure, teams benefit from robust security and optimised performance. 

“With Microsoft committing their support for Ubuntu Core with the release of the Microsoft Azure IoT Edge Snaps we see another example of the industry’s enthusiasm to adopt the operating system to fulfil all of their IoT needs. We look forward to growing this relationship further with Microsoft in the future”.  – Michael Croft-White, Engineering Director.

“In collaboration with Canonical, we are making it simpler to reliably connect devices to Microsoft Azure IoT services. Snap support in Azure IoT Edge helps ensure consistent performance, enhanced security, and efficient updates across Linux distributions that support Snaps.” 

Kam VedBrat, GM, Azure IoT

Further reading

More information on Ubuntu Core can be found at ubuntu.com/core. Our “Intro to Ubuntu Core 22” webinar is a comprehensive resource for everything you need to know about Ubuntu Core. 

If you are not already familiar with Microsoft’s Azure IoT Edge, more information can be found here. 

Are you interested in running Ubuntu Core with Azure IoT on your devices and are working on a commercial project?

About Canonical

Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu, provides open-source security, support and services. Our portfolio covers critical systems, from the smallest devices to the largest clouds, from the kernel to containers, from databases to AI. With customers that include top tech brands, emerging startups, governments and home users, Canonical delivers trusted open source for everyone.