Shreyabaheti outlines the core Linux-on-Azure innovations and technical sessions at Microsoft Ignite 2025, showcasing Azure Linux security, AKS modernization, and hands-on migration labs for practitioners and developers.

Linux on Azure at Microsoft Ignite 2025: What’s New, Sessions, and Announcements

Key Announcements

1. Built-in CIS Benchmarks for Azure Linux (Public Preview)
CIS Benchmarks are now integrated into Azure Machine Configuration, enabling automated and customizable compliance across Azure, hybrid, and on-premises Linux estates. No additional tooling is needed, making large-scale governance simpler for organizations running critical workloads.

2. Azure Linux OS Guard (Public Preview)
A new, hardened, immutable Linux container host for AKS, featuring enforced FIPS mode and a reduced attack surface. OS Guard brings default-secure, deep AKS integration for regulated and sensitive cloud-native workloads.

3. Pod Sandboxing for AKS with Kata Containers (General Availability)
Fully managed Kata Containers are now GA for AKS, delivering VM-level isolation for pods—a key security feature for multi-tenant and compliance-minded deployment scenarios.

Sessions to Attend

Breakout Sessions

  • Optimizing performance, deployments, and security for Linux on Azure (Session BRK143)
  • Build, modernize, and secure AKS workloads with Azure Linux (Session BRK144)
  • From VMs and containers to AI apps with Azure Red Hat OpenShift (Session BRK104)
  • Nasdaq Boardvantage: AI-driven governance on PostgreSQL and AI Foundry (Session BRK137)

Theatre Sessions

  • Hybrid workload compliance from policy to practice on Azure (Session THR712)
  • From Container to Node: Building Minimal-CVE Solutions with Azure Linux (Session THR701)

Hands-on Lab

  • Lab 505: Fast track your Linux and PostgreSQL migration with Azure Migrate

This interactive lab covers the assessment, planning, and execution of Linux and PostgreSQL migrations using Azure Migrate’s end-to-end tooling.

Meet the Linux on Azure Team

Attendees can visit the Linux on Azure Expert Meetup stations inside the Microsoft Hub for direct access to product experts, technical Q&A, live demos, and guidance on security, compliance, and modernization of Linux workloads on Azure.

Summary

Microsoft Ignite 2025 is set to provide attendees—whether in-person or digital—with new tools for securing and modernizing Linux workloads in Azure. From technical breakouts on container security to hands-on labs for migration, Ignite’s Linux-focused content is a must-attend for anyone architecting secure, scalable, and compliant cloud environments.

Last updated Nov 17, 2025

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