---
slug: "azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement"
title: "Azure Kubernetes Service: Azure Linux with OS Guard retirement"
summary: "End of support date for Azure Linux with OS Guard in Azure Kubernetes Service: 10 Dec 2026. From that date, new Azure Linux with OS Guard node pools cannot be created and existing ones get no security patches. AKS removes the node images on March 10, 2027."
cloud: "azure"
service: "Azure Kubernetes Service"
service_slug: "aks"
category: "os_image"
type: "retirement"
announced_date: "2026-09-11"
effective_date: "2026-12-10"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: "Azure Container Linux"
affected_versions: []
source_url: "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=571257"
extra_source_urls: ["https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks","https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks#add-acl-node-pools-and-remove-existing-node-pools","https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/core-aks-concepts#nodes-and-node-pools:~:text=in%20AKS.-,OS,-AKS%20supports%20two","https://github.com/Azure/AKS"]
vendor_ref: "571257"
last_checked_at: "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z"
created_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
updated_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/37"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement.json"
---

# Azure Kubernetes Service: Azure Linux with OS Guard retirement

End of support date for Azure Linux with OS Guard in Azure Kubernetes Service: 10 Dec 2026. From that date, new Azure Linux with OS Guard node pools cannot be created and existing ones get no security patches. AKS removes the node images on March 10, 2027.

- Effective date: 10 Dec 2026
- Cloud: [Azure](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/azure.md)
- Service: [Azure Kubernetes Service](https://eolwatch.dev/services/azure/aks.md)
- Type: Retirement
- Category: [OS image](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/os-images.md)
- Replacement: Azure Container Linux
- Announced: 11 Sep 2026
- Official source: [azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=571257)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

From 10 Dec 2026, new Azure Linux with OS Guard (preview) node pools cannot be created, AKS does not produce new node images for affected node pools, and existing node pools do not receive security patches. On March 10, 2027, AKS removes the Azure Linux with OS Guard node images. After the images are removed, scaling and remediation operations, including reimage and redeploy operations, fail for affected node pools.

## What to do

1. Option one: migrate an existing Azure Linux with OS Guard node pool in place by following the [Migrate nodes to Azure Container Linux for Azure Kubernetes Service documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks). This operation performs a standard node image upgrade.
2. Option two: create a new Azure Container Linux node pool, migrate and validate workloads, and then delete the Azure Linux with OS Guard node pool. Follow [Add Azure Container Linux node pools and remove existing node pools](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks#add-acl-node-pools-and-remove-existing-node-pools).
3. For other available options, see the [AKS node operating system](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/core-aks-concepts#nodes-and-node-pools:~:text=in%20AKS.-,OS,-AKS%20supports%20two).

## Replacement

Azure Container Linux

## Sources

- [Official source](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=571257) (azure.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-linux/tutorial-migrate-azure-container-linux-aks#add-acl-node-pools-and-remove-existing-node-pools) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/aks/core-aks-concepts#nodes-and-node-pools:~:text=in%20AKS.-,OS,-AKS%20supports%20two) (learn.microsoft.com, Official)
- [Additional source](https://github.com/Azure/AKS) (github.com, Official)

Last checked against the first source in this list on 12 Nov 2026.

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-aks-azure-linux-os-guard-retirement.json

The text on this page is drafted with AI assistance from the vendor's text, checked against the official source and approved by a person before it is published.