If you're an IoT or embedded device developer, the release of Ubuntu's latest "core" edition should have you excited. Why? Because this latest iteration of Ubuntu Core includes a number of features focused on security. In fact, of this release, Mark Shuttleworth, founder and CEO of Canonical (the company behind Ubuntu), says, “Every connected device needs guaranteed platform security and an app store.” He continues, “Ubuntu Core 20 enables innovators to create highly secure things and focus entirely on their own unique features and apps, with confinement and security updates built into the operating system.”

Three specific security-minded features are:

• Cryptographically-authenticated boot.
• Full disk encryption.
• Manual and remote recovery modes.

Ubuntu Core 20 also addresses the cost of design by working with silicon providers and ODMs to streamline the process of bringing a new device to market. This is accomplished with a new service, dubbed "SMART START," which they call "smart things as a service." This new feature is targeted toward enterprise-class businesses seeking to become connected product manufacturers. SMART START combines hardware certification, software, and services to help accelerate the development process. SMART START offers a fixed-priced engagement for the launch of a device, which covers consulting, engineering, and updates for the first 1000 devices on certified hardware.

Read the full Ubuntu Core 20 release here.