> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/release-notes/previous-releases/2023/december-2023.md).

# December 2023

## What's new

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 8 Images**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/public-images/rhel-images.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 20**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> now supports RHEL 8 images as part of our ongoing commitment to offering RHEL support to our users. As a result, RHEL 8 images are now compatible with the IONOS Public Cloud architecture.
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9 Images**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/public-images/rhel-images.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 18**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> is a certified partner of Red Hat and is authorized to provide and run Red Hat Enterprise Linux inside the IONOS Public Cloud infrastructure. This applies to public RHEL 9 images supplied by <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code>.
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Private Node Pools**</mark>](/cloud/containers/managed-kubernetes/overview/private_node_pools.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 15**

Managed Kubernetes now supports **Private Node Pools**, providing enhanced security, isolation, and flexibility to manage your Kubernetes workloads. You can create **Private Node Pools** within your Managed Kubernetes clusters to ensure your critical workloads remain secure and protected.
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Enhanced Features Released for Backup Service**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/backup-service/overview/advanced-packs.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 15**

Now you can enable advanced features to boost the protection of your workloads:

* **Advanced Backup** ensures continuous protection of your data, capturing even the most recent updates to prevent loss.
* **Advanced Security** offers comprehensive, continuous malware threat mitigation for your data environments.
* **Advanced Management** facilitates the patching of vulnerabilities within your protected data scope.
  {% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Renamed Managed Backup to Backup Service**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/backup-service.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 15**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> has renamed **Managed Backup** to **Backup Service** to standardize the product terminology. Earlier, Managed Backup was also referred to as Backup as a Service or Backup by Acronis across different platforms. The new unified name ensures consistency in our communications and branding. This change does not impact the product's functionality, and the service remains unchanged. The documentation portal now reflects the product name changes. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">FAQ</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/backup-service/backup-service-faqs.md).
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Revamped IONOS CLOUD Object Storage DCD Console**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 14**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> offers a revamped DCD console for **IONOS CLOUD Object Storage** in the General Availability (GA) phase. It is an enhanced version of the old DCD console, providing improved user experience and performance, intuitive design, contextual help, and faster responsiveness. The console navigation label is renamed to **IONOS CLOUD Object Storage** in the DCD.
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**New Feature Set in IONOS CLOUD Object Storage**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/overview/features-benefits.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 14**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_object\_storage</code> offers the Bucket Policy, view object versions and metadata, and Object Lock features in the General Availability (GA) phase. Using [<mark style="color:blue;">Bucket Policy</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/settings/bucket-policy.md), overarching access policies for a bucket can be set to control data access and usage. With [<mark style="color:blue;">Object Lock</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/settings/object-lock.md), data can be secured by implementing retention policies or legal holds; and with object [<mark style="color:blue;">versions and metadata</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/concepts/objects-folders.md#properties-and-metadata), object retrieval is easier for large volumes of unstructured data. These new features overall improve the access and data management in the Object Storage.
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Container Registry Vulnerability Scanning General Availability**</mark>](/cloud/containers/private-container-registry/dcd-how-tos/enable-vulnerability-scanning.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 13**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> offers the new **Container Registry Vulnerability Scanning** feature in General Availability (GA) phase. Software development is constantly evolving, and security is our top priority. The Container Registry Vulnerability Scanning feature is specifically designed to enhance the security of your containerized applications by proactively identifying potential vulnerabilities present in your artifacts. Scans occur each time an artifact is pushed to the registry and when new vulnerability definitions are published. It quickly detects any security weaknesses in container dependencies and libraries, allowing you to react immediately to prevent exploitation. For more information about reviewing the vulnerability scan results, see [<mark style="color:blue;">View Vulnerability Scan Results</mark>](/cloud/containers/private-container-registry/dcd-how-tos/view-vulnerability-scan-results.md).

This feature will be available when creating new container registries, and you can also enable it for existing registries. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Enable Vulnerability Scanning</mark>](/cloud/containers/private-container-registry/dcd-how-tos/enable-vulnerability-scanning.md).
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**New Container Registry Web Console**</mark>](/cloud/containers/private-container-registry/dcd-how-tos.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 13**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> offers the **New Container Registry Web Console**, an enhanced version of the existing Container Registry Web Console, providing improved user experience and performance, intuitive design, faster responsiveness and additional features than the existing Container Registry Web Console. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">DCD How-Tos</mark>](/cloud/containers/private-container-registry/dcd-how-tos.md).
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Images**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/public-images/rhel-images.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 4**

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> is a certified partner of Red Hat and are authorized to provide and run Red Hat Enterprise Linux inside the IONOS Public Cloud infrastructure. This is applicable to both public RHEL images supplied by <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> and user-uploaded private RHEL images.
{% endhint %}

## Documentation updates

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Reorganized subtopics in Block Storage**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/block-storage.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 18**

The subtopics in the **Block Storage** section have been updated. It now contains a new **Images and Snapshots** section with the appropriate subtopics—[<mark style="color:blue;">IONOS CLOUD Public Images</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/public-images.md) and [<mark style="color:blue;">Private Images</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/private-images.md). For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Images and Snapshots</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots.md).
{% endhint %}

### [<mark style="color:blue;">**Reorganized subtopics in Block Storage**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/block-storage.md)

{% hint style="success" %}
**December 4**

The subtopics in the **Block Storage** section have been updated. It now contains a new **Images and Snapshots** section with the appropriate subtopics—[<mark style="color:blue;">**Public Images**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/public-images.md) and [<mark style="color:blue;">**Private Images**</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots/private-images.md). For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Images and Snapshots</mark>](/cloud/backup-and-storage/images-snapshots.md).
{% endhint %}


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