Ubuntu LTS available with 15 years of long-term support
Canonical is updating its approach to Ubuntu Pro by extending the legacy add-on option for long-lived production systems. This change boosts the standard security maintenance period for Ubuntu LTS releases from 12 years all the way up to a substantial 15-year window.
For organizations operating in sectors where system upgrades can be tricky, think highly regulated environments or hardware-dependent setups, this extension is genuinely helpful. Running critical systems for over ten years requires careful handling, and often sticking with a proven platform makes more sense than wrestling through complex transitions.
That's why Canonical created the legacy add-on back in 2014, starting with Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr). Initially, this feature added two extra years to the end of support, on top of standard security maintenance and ESM, effectively giving users a full 12-year lifespan.
The idea seems to be working well. Seeing strong user feedback for longer support cycles, Canonical has chosen to increase the legacy add-on duration by another three years, resulting in that coveted 15-year timeframe for essential security upkeep on maintained LTS releases.
Key here is that the core Legacy add-on remains unchanged; it's just now covering a longer period of time. This essentially provides users with extra runway when planning upgrades or managing complex compliance requirements across their environments. The enhanced coverage applies to all existing and future Ubuntu LTS versions.
Think of this enhancement as offering greater predictability for infrastructure projects, particularly those needing extensive security monitoring over very long periods. Canonical clearly understands the hurdles associated with major transitions, the effort involved, and potential risks around recertification, which is likely why they've chosen to meet actual needs rather than push a shorter timeline.
Existing Ubuntu Pro subscribers shouldn't see any disruption from this move. The extended coverage simply means their subscription continues without interruption if they choose to maintain it under the legacy terms. There's no need for re-enrollment, reinstalling anything, or suddenly overhauling your systems unless you want to.
The Legacy add-on itself operates on its standard pricing structure, which applies once users hit the initial security maintenance period (typically after ten years). This higher commitment level is suitable if you're managing an Ubuntu LTS system that requires ongoing support beyond typical upgrade cycles.
