Azure VM Image Builder Can Simplify Building Custom Images

• Azure VM Image Builder, in preview, is a service for building and updating custom Azure VM images.
• It can provide faster, more reliable results for building custom VM images than manual build and deployment processes.
• General availability of Image Builder is planned for later in 2020.

Azure VM Image Builder, currently in public preview, is an Azure service that can automate building and updating custom Azure VM images for the specific needs of an organization. 

Why Automate Custom VM Image Build

Often, VMs need to be configured or customized before they can be used by an organization in their Azure environment. This can include:

• Configuration and setup of the OS or applications
• Applying security and other organizational standards
• Adding or updating applications, utilities, and files.

Azure VMs can be configured after they are deployed, and the process can be automated with manual scripting, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Azure Automation State Configuration, and other tools. However, using customized VM images can ensure VM images have been tested, speed deployment of new VMs, and provide identical VM images for use in scale-out services like Azure VM scale sets or in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments based on Windows Virtual Desktop.