Deploying updates to virtual machine images based on differences in artifacts

Embodiments include systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation for managing different virtual machine images as a single virtual machine image. The operation generally includes generating a representation of a virtual machine (VM) image, and generating a first VM instance from the VM image. The representation of the VM image includes a set of artifacts associated with the VM image. The operation also includes receiving an indication of an available software update. Upon determining that the software update is applicable to the representation of the VM image, the operation further includes applying the software update to the first VM instance image.