The Ubuntu Pro version is now available for all
A new subscription-based Ubuntu Pro version has launched publicly and offers ten years of security updates and support. Computer software company Canonical first debuted it last October and went publicly available earlier this week on January 26. As of now, the Pro version is accessible for the Long Term Support releases of Ubuntu LTS, including 14.04 LTS, 16.04 LTS, 18.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS, and 22.04 LTS.
Free for personal use up to five devices, the Ubuntu Pro version is protected with security updates for the next ten years, giving it a significant edge above standard Ubuntu LTS editions. Listed below are some of its advantages.
- 10 years of security support for Ubuntu Main and 23000 additional packages
- Optional phone / ticket support
- NIST-certified FIPS crypto-modules
- USG hardening with CIS and DISA-STIG profiles
- Common Criteria EAL2
- Kernel Livepatch service
- Landscape
Canonical offers five years of support for Ubuntu Main and an extra five years of extended support are included within the security support period. Even better, Ubuntu community members get to use it for free for up to 50 devices.
Since the Ubuntu Pro version beta, numerous well-known corporations including Nvidia, Google, and VMWare, have all participated in its testing. Pro users can access FIPS-certified cryptographic packages, which are required for Federal Governments and organizations subject to compliance regimes such as FedRAMP, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.
To get started, check out the official Ubuntu website here. At home users can opt-in for a free account, which business users can purchase the Pro version. Following registration, free personal tokens are listed under “account management”. These need to be entered on individual machines to link them to the account and enable the Ubuntu Pro version on the device.