This listing is for virtual machine images based on CentOS 7.9 and enhanced with CIQ Bridge to provide extended lifecycle security patches by CIQ. While CentOS 7 went end-of-life (EOL) in 2024, thousands of systems still run this OS in environments which are difficult to move quickly to a more modern platform. With patching no longer provided by the CentOS project, CIQ Bridge offers continued remediation of Critical and Important/High vulnerabilities (CVEs) via a private package repository which is included in this VM image by default. With CIQ Bridge, CIQ helps ensure that your environment remains secure and compliant as you develop a migration strategy to a newer and more modern operating system like Rocky Linux from CIQ (RLC).

CIQ is founded by Gregory Kurter, a co-founder of the original CentOS project, and so we are uniquely qualified to support you with your ongoing use of the CentOS 7 while you build a plan to migrate.

• CVE Prioritization: CIQ prioritizes CVE resolution for a curated list of critical packages. We evaluate each CVE and rank order and qualify them by mostly impact, but we also take into consideration stability and maturity of each fix.
• Availability via private repositories: With CIQ Bridge you are provided access to private repositories via CIQ Portal for access to these artifacts. For large-scale deployments, CIQ provides a guide on repository mirroring and automation.
• Applied in intervals and complete reporting: CVE fixes are remediated using a consistent and predictable release schedule. Regular YUM updates will ensure the latest patches are applied and all patches will be reported in CSAF format to a public GitHub repository for ingestion by scanning providers like Qualys or Tenable. (See product information links below.)

CIQ Bridge for CentOS 7.9 is not intended to be a permanent solution, and prices will rise in the future as CentOS 7 maintenance grows in difficulty (subject to Azure Marketplace terms and conditions and any negotiated pricing agreements between you and CIQ.)

If you need assistance planning your migration, CIQ can help with migration expertise through a Professional Services engagement. Volume discounts for environments of 50 nodes and above are available via private offer - contact CIQ for details.