Sudhanva announces that Azure Linux 3.0 is now Level 1 CIS Benchmark certified, providing AKS users with secure, compliant Linux foundations on Azure.

Azure Linux 3.0 Achieves Level 1 CIS Benchmark Certification

Azure Linux 3.0 has officially passed the Level 1 Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks. This achievement strengthens the security and compliance posture for customers running Linux workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

What is the Center for Internet Security (CIS)?

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) is a nonprofit organization focused on developing, validating, and promoting best practices for cyber defense. Their benchmarks and controls are recognized standards drawing on the collective expertise of IT and security professionals.

What Are CIS Benchmarks?

  • CIS benchmarks outline configuration baselines and recommended security practices for securely deploying and operating systems.
  • They map to important standards such as NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more.
  • The benchmarks are consensus-driven, with community review at multiple stages.
  • Levels:
    • Level 1: Basic security standards, minimal impact on system availability or performance
    • Level 2: Tighter security, may affect some system functionality

Significance for Azure Linux 3.0 on AKS

  • By passing Level 1, Azure Linux 3.0 comes pre-configured with essential security controls.
  • This assists organizations in meeting regulatory obligations and protecting against cyber threats without trade-offs in performance or agility.
  • Users can deploy Linux applications via AKS clusters confidently, knowing their infrastructure meets robust security baselines out of the box.
  • No additional configuration is required; all Azure Linux 3.0 nodes in AKS comply by default.

Resources

  • [Center for Internet Security (CIS) Benchmarks - Microsoft Compliance Microsoft Learn](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/compliance/regulatory/offering-CIS-Benchmark?toc=%2Fazure%2Faks%2Ftoc.json&bc=%2Fazure%2Faks%2Fbreadcrumb%2Ftoc.json)

About the Author

Sudhanva is a Microsoft professional involved with security and cloud services.

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