diff --git a/ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml b/ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml
index 75dac55237..7ef12fc21e 100644
--- a/ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml
+++ b/ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml
@@ -9,3 +9,16 @@ ceos_image_url:
   - "http://example1.com/cEOS64-lab-4.32.5M.tar"
   - "http://example2.com/cEOS64-lab-4.32.5M.tar"
 skip_ceos_image_downloading: false
+
+# Registry settings for pulling ceos docker image. If ceos_registry is defined, the code will first
+# check whether ceos_image is already cached locally from the registry, and if not, try to pull it
+# from the registry before falling back to the download-and-build approach.
+#
+# Uncomment ceos_registry and set it to your registry URL to enable registry pulling.
+# If the registry requires authentication, also uncomment and set ceos_registry_username and
+# ceos_registry_password. If the registry is publicly accessible without authentication, leave the
+# username and password commented out.
+#
+# ceos_registry: "your-registry.example.com"
+# ceos_registry_username: "your-username"
+# ceos_registry_password: "your-password"
diff --git a/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos.yml b/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos.yml
index 4fb623f1c7..e2e07ad8cf 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos.yml
@@ -23,11 +23,56 @@
 - include_vars: group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml
 - include_tasks: ceos_config.yml
 
+- name: Check if ceos_image from registry is available locally
+  docker_image_info:
+    name:
+      - "{{ ceos_registry }}/{{ ceos_image }}"
+  become: yes
+  register: ceos_registry_image_info
+  delegate_to: "{{ VM_host[0] }}"
+  when: ceos_registry is defined
+
+- name: Discover ceos_image locally (plain or from any registry)
+  # Searches all local docker images for one matching ceos_image. This single grep covers:
+  # - Plain local image: ceosimage:4.32.5M-1
+  # - Image pre-pulled from any registry: soniccr1.azurecr.io/ceosimage:4.32.5M-1
+  # When ceos_registry is defined, this task is skipped — the explicit registry check above is used.
+  become: yes
+  shell: >-
+    docker images --format
+    '{% raw %}{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}{% endraw %}'
+    | grep -m1 '{{ ceos_image }}$'
+  register: ceos_image_discovery_result
+  delegate_to: "{{ VM_host[0] }}"
+  ignore_errors: yes
+  changed_when: no
+  when: ceos_registry is not defined
+
+- name: Set ceos_effective_image
+  set_fact:
+    # Priority order for determining the effective ceos image:
+    # 1. When ceos_registry is defined and the registry image is available locally, use the
+    #    registry-prefixed image name. This ensures containers always reference the registry
+    #    image, satisfying security requirements (e.g. Microsoft ACR/MCR policy).
+    # 2. When ceos_registry is not defined, use whatever local image matches ceos_image
+    #    (plain or from any registry). Preferring a pre-pulled registry image avoids building
+    #    a local image and triggering S360 alerts.
+    # 3. Fall back to the plain ceos_image name when no image is discovered.
+    ceos_effective_image: >-
+      {{ ceos_registry + '/' + ceos_image
+         if (ceos_registry is defined and ceos_registry_image_info.images | length > 0)
+         else (ceos_image_discovery_result.stdout | trim)
+              if (ceos_registry is not defined and
+                  ceos_image_discovery_result is not skipped and
+                  ceos_image_discovery_result.rc == 0 and
+                  ceos_image_discovery_result.stdout | trim != '')
+         else ceos_image }}
+
 - name: Create cEOS container
   become: yes
   docker_container:
     name: ceos_{{ vm_set_name }}_{{ inventory_hostname }}
-    image: "{{ ceos_image }}"
+    image: "{{ ceos_effective_image }}"
     command: /sbin/init systemd.setenv=INTFTYPE=eth systemd.setenv=ETBA=1 systemd.setenv=SKIP_ZEROTOUCH_BARRIER_IN_SYSDBINIT=1 systemd.setenv=CEOS=1 systemd.setenv=EOS_PLATFORM=ceoslab systemd.setenv=container=docker systemd.setenv=MGMT_INTF=eth0
     pull: no
     state: started
diff --git a/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos_ensure_reachable.yml b/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos_ensure_reachable.yml
index ccf429c785..9d169e99be 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos_ensure_reachable.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/eos/tasks/ceos_ensure_reachable.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+- name: Set ceos_effective_image fallback if not already defined
+  # ceos_effective_image is normally set by the caller (ceos.yml in the eos role) before this
+  # file is included. This task provides a safe fallback in case this file is invoked
+  # independently, so it does not fail with an undefined variable error.
+  set_fact:
+    ceos_effective_image: "{{ ceos_image }}"
+  when: ceos_effective_image is not defined
+
 - block:
   - name: set time out threshold
     set_fact:
@@ -18,7 +26,7 @@
     become: yes
     docker_container:
       name: ceos_{{ vm_set_name }}_{{ inventory_hostname }}
-      image: "{{ ceos_image }}"
+      image: "{{ ceos_effective_image }}"
       command: /sbin/init systemd.setenv=INTFTYPE=eth systemd.setenv=ETBA=1 systemd.setenv=SKIP_ZEROTOUCH_BARRIER_IN_SYSDBINIT=1 systemd.setenv=CEOS=1 systemd.setenv=EOS_PLATFORM=ceoslab systemd.setenv=container=docker systemd.setenv=MGMT_INTF=eth0
       pull: no
       state: started
diff --git a/ansible/roles/vm_set/tasks/add_ceos_list.yml b/ansible/roles/vm_set/tasks/add_ceos_list.yml
index 5109a593fd..02b998e5ee 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/vm_set/tasks/add_ceos_list.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/vm_set/tasks/add_ceos_list.yml
@@ -1,100 +1,172 @@
-- name: Check if cEOS docker image exists or not
+- name: Check if cEOS docker image from registry is already cached locally
   docker_image_info:
     name:
-      - "{{ ceos_image }}"
+      - "{{ ceos_registry }}/{{ ceos_image }}"
   become: yes
-  register: ceos_docker_image_stat
+  register: ceos_registry_cached_image_stat
+  when: ceos_registry is defined
+
+- name: Discover cEOS docker image locally (plain or from any registry)
+  # Searches all local docker images for one matching ceos_image. This single grep covers:
+  # - Plain local image: ceosimage:4.32.5M-1
+  # - Image pre-pulled from any registry: soniccr1.azurecr.io/ceosimage:4.32.5M-1
+  # When ceos_registry is defined, this task is skipped — the explicit registry check above is used.
+  become: yes
+  shell: >-
+    docker images --format
+    '{% raw %}{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}{% endraw %}'
+    | grep -m1 '{{ ceos_image }}$'
+  register: ceos_image_discovery_result
+  ignore_errors: yes
+  changed_when: no
+  when: ceos_registry is not defined
+
+- name: Set fact for whether ceos_image is already available
+  set_fact:
+    # When registry is defined, only the registry-prefixed image is considered "found" - using
+    # a local image in that case would bypass the registry requirement (e.g. Microsoft ACR/MCR).
+    # When registry is not defined, the image is "found" if any local image (plain or from any
+    # registry) matches ceos_image. This covers images pre-pulled during infrastructure
+    # provisioning (e.g. VMSS setup) without exposing the registry URL in public code.
+    # The | bool filter ensures this is stored as a Python boolean, not the string "True"/"False",
+    # so that "when: not ceos_image_found" evaluates correctly.
+    ceos_image_found: "{{ ((ceos_registry is not defined and
+                            ceos_image_discovery_result is not skipped and
+                            ceos_image_discovery_result.rc == 0 and
+                            ceos_image_discovery_result.stdout | trim != '') or
+                           (ceos_registry is defined and
+                            ceos_registry_cached_image_stat.images | length > 0)) | bool }}"
 
 - name: Prepare ceos_image if it does not exist
   block:
 
-    - name: Check if ceos_image_orig exists or not
-      docker_image_info:
-        name:
-          - "{{ ceos_image_orig }}"
-      become: yes
-      register: ceos_image_orig_stat
+    - name: Try to get ceos_image from registry
+      block:
 
-    - name: Prepare ceos_image_orig if it does not exist
+        - name: Login to ceos registry if credentials are defined
+          become: yes
+          docker_login:
+            registry_url: "{{ ceos_registry }}"
+            username: "{{ ceos_registry_username }}"
+            password: "{{ ceos_registry_password }}"
+          when: >
+            ceos_registry_username is defined and
+            ceos_registry_password is defined
+
+        - name: Pull ceos_image from registry
+          become: yes
+          docker_image:
+            name: "{{ ceos_registry }}/{{ ceos_image }}"
+            source: pull
+          register: ceos_registry_pull_result
+          ignore_errors: yes
+
+        - name: Warn that registry pull failed, will fall back to download and build
+          debug:
+            msg: >-
+              WARNING: Failed to pull {{ ceos_registry }}/{{ ceos_image }} from registry.
+              Will fall back to the download-and-build path. Check ceos_registry and credentials.
+          when: ceos_registry_pull_result is failed
+
+      when: ceos_registry is defined
+
+    - name: Prepare ceos_image via download and build if registry pull failed or registry not defined
       block:
-        - name: Check if local ceos image file exists or not
-          stat:
-            path: "{{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
-          register: ceos_image_file_stat
 
-        - name: Download cEOS image file if no local ceos image file exists
+        - name: Check if ceos_image_orig exists or not
+          docker_image_info:
+            name:
+              - "{{ ceos_image_orig }}"
+          become: yes
+          register: ceos_image_orig_stat
+
+        - name: Prepare ceos_image_orig if it does not exist
           block:
-            - name: Fail if skip_ceos_image_downloading is true
-              fail:
-                msg: [
-                  "Failed, no ceos docker image, no ceos image file and skip_ceos_image_downloading is true",
-                  "Please manually put cEOS image to {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
-                ]
-              when: skip_ceos_image_downloading == true
-
-            - name: Init ceos_image_urls when ceos_image_url value type is string
-              set_fact:
-                ceos_image_urls:
-                  - "{{ ceos_image_url }}"
-              when: ceos_image_url | type_debug == 'string'
-
-            - name: Init ceos_image_urls when ceos_image_url value type is list
-              set_fact:
-                ceos_image_urls: "{{ ceos_image_url }}"
-              when: ceos_image_url | type_debug == 'list'
-
-            - name: Init working_image_urls list
-              set_fact:
-                working_image_urls: []
-
-            - name: Loop ceos_image_urls to find out working URLs
-              include_tasks: probe_image_url.yml
-              loop: "{{ ceos_image_urls }}"
-
-            - name: Fail if no working ceos image download url is found
-              fail:
-                msg: [
-                  "Failed, no working ceos image download URL is found. There are 2 options to fix it:",
-                  "  1. Fix ceos_image_url defined in ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml",
-                  "  2. Manually put cEOS image to {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}",
-                ]
-              when: working_image_urls | length == 0
-
-            - name: Download cEOS image file from working ceos_image_urls using the first working URL
-              get_url:
-                url: "{{ working_image_urls[0] }}"
-                dest: "{{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
-              environment: "{{ proxy_env | default({}) }}"
-              register: ceos_image_download_result
-
-          when: ceos_image_file_stat.stat.exists == false
-
-        - name: Import ceos_image_orig docker image
+            - name: Check if local ceos image file exists or not
+              stat:
+                path: "{{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
+              register: ceos_image_file_stat
+
+            - name: Download cEOS image file if no local ceos image file exists
+              block:
+                - name: Fail if skip_ceos_image_downloading is true
+                  fail:
+                    msg: [
+                      "Failed, no ceos docker image, no ceos image file and skip_ceos_image_downloading is true",
+                      "Please manually put cEOS image to {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
+                    ]
+                  when: skip_ceos_image_downloading == true
+
+                - name: Init ceos_image_urls when ceos_image_url value type is string
+                  set_fact:
+                    ceos_image_urls:
+                      - "{{ ceos_image_url }}"
+                  when: ceos_image_url | type_debug == 'string'
+
+                - name: Init ceos_image_urls when ceos_image_url value type is list
+                  set_fact:
+                    ceos_image_urls: "{{ ceos_image_url }}"
+                  when: ceos_image_url | type_debug == 'list'
+
+                - name: Init working_image_urls list
+                  set_fact:
+                    working_image_urls: []
+
+                - name: Loop ceos_image_urls to find out working URLs
+                  include_tasks: probe_image_url.yml
+                  loop: "{{ ceos_image_urls }}"
+
+                - name: Fail if no working ceos image download url is found
+                  fail:
+                    msg: [
+                      "Failed, no working ceos image download URL is found. There are 2 options to fix it:",
+                      "  1. Fix ceos_image_url defined in ansible/group_vars/vm_host/ceos.yml",
+                      "  2. Manually put cEOS image to {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}",
+                    ]
+                  when: working_image_urls | length == 0
+
+                - name: Ensure {{ root_path }}/images exists
+                  file: path={{ root_path }}/images state=directory
+
+                - name: Download cEOS image file from working ceos_image_urls using the first working URL
+                  get_url:
+                    url: "{{ working_image_urls[0] }}"
+                    dest: "{{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }}"
+                  environment: "{{ proxy_env | default({}) }}"
+                  register: ceos_image_download_result
+
+              when: ceos_image_file_stat.stat.exists == false
+
+            - name: Import ceos_image_orig docker image
+              become: yes
+              shell: "docker import {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }} {{ ceos_image_orig }}"
+
+          when: ceos_image_orig_stat.images | length == 0
+
+        - name: Create directory for building ceos docker image
+          become: yes
+          file:
+            path: "/tmp/ceosimage"
+            state: directory
+
+        - name: Copy the ceos image template
+          become: yes
+          template: src=ceos_dockerfile.j2 dest=/tmp/ceosimage/Dockerfile mode=0644
+
+        - name: Build the ceos image with increasing inotify limit
           become: yes
-          shell: "docker import {{ root_path }}/images/{{ ceos_image_filename }} {{ ceos_image_orig }}"
-
-      when: ceos_image_orig_stat.images | length == 0
-
-    - name: Create directory for building ceos docker image
-      become: yes
-      file:
-        path: "/tmp/ceosimage"
-        state: directory
-
-    - name: Copy the ceos image template
-      become: yes
-      template: src=ceos_dockerfile.j2 dest=/tmp/ceosimage/Dockerfile mode=0644
-
-    - name: Build the ceos image with increasing inotify limit
-      become: yes
-      docker_image:
-        name: "{{ ceos_image }}"
-        build:
-          path: "/tmp/ceosimage"
-          pull: no
-        source: build
-
-  when: ceos_docker_image_stat.images | length == 0
+          docker_image:
+            name: "{{ ceos_image }}"
+            build:
+              path: "/tmp/ceosimage"
+              pull: no
+            source: build
+
+      when: >
+        ceos_registry is not defined or
+        (ceos_registry_pull_result is defined and ceos_registry_pull_result is failed)
+
+  when: not ceos_image_found
 
 - name: Create VMs network
   become: yes