Ubuntu Arrives on Amazon WorkSpaces: The First Fully Managed Ubuntu VDI on a Public Cloud

29th September 2022 – Canonical is proud to announce the availability of Ubuntu WorkSpaces on AWS, a fully managed virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) on the public cloud and the first third-party Linux OS available on the platform. Ubuntu Desktop’s availability on Amazon WorkSpaces was announced today at the AWS End User Computing Innovation Day in Seattle, WA.

Amazon WorkSpaces offers a fully managed and highly secure cloud desktop solution across a broad hardware spectrum, without the upfront costs of deployment and configuration. They enable remote developers to access high-performance desktops from any location, preserving security.

Until now, Amazon WorkSpaces offered the option of either Windows or Amazon Linux machines. With the addition of Ubuntu WorkSpaces, developers can use their preferred Linux operating system, with access to a wealth of open source tools and libraries in cutting-edge fields like data science, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), cloud and internet-of-things (IoT).

“We’ve brought Ubuntu Desktop to Amazon WorkSpaces so developers can streamline the design, coding, pipelines, and deployment of Ubuntu-based workloads, whether instances or containers, all within the AWS environment,” said Alex Gallagher, VP Cloud for Canonical. “Also, Ubuntu virtual desktops on WorkSpaces enable IT organisations to quickly and easily provision high-performance Ubuntu Desktop instances, delivered as a fully managed AWS service. In the face of constant and increasing pressure to support the security and productivity needs of hybrid workers, that’s a win for IT organizations and their end users.”

Secure, performant Linux on demand

The flexibility provided by Amazon WorkSpaces means developers can spin up and tear down high-end development machines for resource-intensive workloads as and when they are required, without the overhead of purchasing and maintaining additional hardware. This increased efficiency can represent a significant cost saving for academic institutions and enterprises of all sizes.

DevOps engineers can switch between complex OS configurations to test multiple environments without needing to reconfigure their local system or provision multiple physical devices

Remote workers can be provided with the tools, environment and permissions needed to enable their role without increasing security risks. Ubuntu workstations benefit from all AWS security controls, have data encrypted at rest and connection secured by AWS pixel streaming technology

Company administrators gain comprehensive control over their developer’s desktop environments, from security policies to installed applications as well as user access control through Active Directory. All Ubuntu WorkSpaces benefit from Ubuntu Pro, which includes support for expanded security patching for 10 years

By leveraging Ubuntu WorkSpaces on AWS, admins can also avoid the overhead of mixed OS device management among developers.

Get started with Ubuntu WorkSpaces

Amazon Workspaces, Ubuntu WorkSpaces offers a wealth of best practice guides and tutorials, including how to assign Amazon WorkSpaces to users from a directory service

More information is available in the AWS guide to getting started on Amazon WorkSpaces.

Pricing for Ubuntu WorkSpaces is connected to users’ hardware requirements. More information and detailed pricing can be found on the Amazon WorkSpaces.

Read more

• AWS News Blog
• Ubuntu Desktop for Organisations
• How to integrate Ubuntu Desktop with Active Directory

If you’re interested in how Ubuntu Desktop can empower developers in your organisation, please get in touch.

About Canonical 

Canonical is the publisher of Ubuntu, the OS for most public cloud workloads as well as the emerging categories of smart gateways, self-driving cars and advanced robots. Canonical provides enterprise security, support and services to commercial users of Ubuntu. Established in 2004, Canonical is a privately held company.