diff --git a/helpers/CreateAzureVMFromPackerTemplate.ps1 b/helpers/CreateAzureVMFromPackerTemplate.ps1
index 0aa95b04f37f..683f2cf51bb1 100644
--- a/helpers/CreateAzureVMFromPackerTemplate.ps1
+++ b/helpers/CreateAzureVMFromPackerTemplate.ps1
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 Function CreateAzureVMFromPackerTemplate {
     <#
         .SYNOPSIS
-            Creates an Azure VM from a template. Also generates network resources in Azure to make the VM accessible.
+            A helper function to deploy a VM from a generated image.
 
         .DESCRIPTION
-            Creates Azure resources and kicks off a packer image generation for the selected image type.
+             Creates an Azure VM from a template. Also generates network resources in Azure to make the VM accessible.
 
         .PARAMETER SubscriptionId
             The Azure subscription Id where resources will be created.
diff --git a/helpers/GenerateResourcesAndImage.ps1 b/helpers/GenerateResourcesAndImage.ps1
index 26d621787d3c..32177094980c 100644
--- a/helpers/GenerateResourcesAndImage.ps1
+++ b/helpers/GenerateResourcesAndImage.ps1
@@ -39,6 +39,16 @@ Function Get-PackerTemplatePath {
     return $RepositoryRoot + $relativePath;
 }
 
+Function Get-LatestCommit {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param()
+
+    process {
+        Write-Host "Latest commit:"
+        git log --pretty=format:"Date: %cd; Commit: %H - %s; Author: %an <%ae>" -1
+    }
+}
+
 Function GenerateResourcesAndImage {
     <#
         .SYNOPSIS
@@ -170,6 +180,8 @@ Function GenerateResourcesAndImage {
     $tenantId = $sub.TenantId
     # "", "Note this variable-setting script for running Packer with these Azure resources in the future:", "==============================================================================================", "`$spClientId = `"$spClientId`"", "`$ServicePrincipalClientSecret = `"$ServicePrincipalClientSecret`"", "`$SubscriptionId = `"$SubscriptionId`"", "`$tenantId = `"$tenantId`"", "`$spObjectId = `"$spObjectId`"", "`$AzureLocation = `"$AzureLocation`"", "`$ResourceGroupName = `"$ResourceGroupName`"", "`$storageAccountName = `"$storageAccountName`"", "`$install_password = `"$install_password`"", ""
 
+    Get-LatestCommit -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
+
     packer.exe build -on-error=ask `
         -var "client_id=$($spClientId)" `
         -var "client_secret=$($ServicePrincipalClientSecret)" `
diff --git a/images.CI/azure-pipelines/image-generation.yml b/images.CI/azure-pipelines/image-generation.yml
index d2adc15ae87a..70db48f1c525 100644
--- a/images.CI/azure-pipelines/image-generation.yml
+++ b/images.CI/azure-pipelines/image-generation.yml
@@ -17,13 +17,10 @@ jobs:
     displayName: 'Download custom repository'
     condition: and(ne(variables['CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_URL'], ''), ne(variables['CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_BRANCH'], ''))
     inputs:
-      targetType: 'inline'
-      script: |
-        Write-Host "Clean up default repository"
-        Remove-Item -path './*' -Recurse -Force
-        Write-Host "Download $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_BRANCH) branch from $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_URL)"
-        $env:GIT_REDIRECT_STDERR = '2>&1'
-        git clone $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_URL) . -b $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_BRANCH) --single-branch --depth 1
+      targetType: 'filePath'
+      filePath: ./images.CI/download-repo.ps1
+      arguments: -RepoUrl $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_URL) `
+                        -RepoBranch $(CUSTOM_REPOSITORY_BRANCH)
 
   - task: PowerShell@2
     displayName: 'Build VM'
diff --git a/images.CI/download-repo.ps1 b/images.CI/download-repo.ps1
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..40270769ee80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/images.CI/download-repo.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+param(
+    [String] [Parameter (Mandatory=$true)] $RepoUrl,
+    [String] [Parameter (Mandatory=$true)] $RepoBranch
+)
+
+Write-Host "Clean up default repository"
+Remove-Item -path './*' -Recurse -Force
+
+Write-Host "Download ${RepoBranch} branch from ${RepoUrl}"
+$env:GIT_REDIRECT_STDERR = '2>&1'
+git clone $RepoUrl . -b $RepoBranch --single-branch --depth 1
+
+Write-Host "Latest commit:"
+git log --pretty=format:"Date: %cd; Commit: %H - %s; Author: %an <%ae>" -1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/images/linux/ubuntu1604.json b/images/linux/ubuntu1604.json
index 74bc621366f7..4a5c5be13279 100644
--- a/images/linux/ubuntu1604.json
+++ b/images/linux/ubuntu1604.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
     "variables": {
-        "commit_url": "{{env `COMMIT_URL`}}",
         "client_id": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_ID`}}",
         "client_secret": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_SECRET`}}",
         "subscription_id": "{{env `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID`}}",
@@ -14,7 +13,6 @@
         "virtual_network_subnet_name": "{{env `VNET_SUBNET`}}",
         "private_virtual_network_with_public_ip": "{{env `PRIVATE_VIRTUAL_NETWORK_WITH_PUBLIC_IP`}}",
         "image_folder": "/imagegeneration",
-        "commit_file": "/imagegeneration/commit.txt",
         "imagedata_file": "/imagegeneration/imagedata.json",
         "metadata_file": "/imagegeneration/metadatafile",
         "installer_script_folder": "/imagegeneration/installers",
@@ -59,9 +57,7 @@
             "type": "shell",
             "inline": [
                 "mkdir {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "echo {{user `commit_url`}} > {{user `commit_file`}}",
-                "chmod +r {{user `commit_file`}}"
+                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}"
             ],
             "execute_command": "sudo sh -c '{{ .Vars }} {{ .Path }}'"
         },
diff --git a/images/linux/ubuntu1804.json b/images/linux/ubuntu1804.json
index c5545cc12c75..91f468f36be2 100644
--- a/images/linux/ubuntu1804.json
+++ b/images/linux/ubuntu1804.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
     "variables": {
-        "commit_url": "{{env `COMMIT_URL`}}",
         "client_id": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_ID`}}",
         "client_secret": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_SECRET`}}",
         "subscription_id": "{{env `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID`}}",
@@ -14,7 +13,6 @@
         "virtual_network_subnet_name": "{{env `VNET_SUBNET`}}",
         "private_virtual_network_with_public_ip": "{{env `PRIVATE_VIRTUAL_NETWORK_WITH_PUBLIC_IP`}}",
         "image_folder": "/imagegeneration",
-        "commit_file": "/imagegeneration/commit.txt",
         "imagedata_file": "/imagegeneration/imagedata.json",
         "metadata_file": "/imagegeneration/metadatafile",
         "installer_script_folder": "/imagegeneration/installers",
@@ -59,9 +57,7 @@
             "type": "shell",
             "inline": [
                 "mkdir {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "echo {{user `commit_url`}} > {{user `commit_file`}}",
-                "chmod +r {{user `commit_file`}}"
+                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}"
             ],
             "execute_command": "sudo sh -c '{{ .Vars }} {{ .Path }}'"
         },
diff --git a/images/linux/ubuntu2004.json b/images/linux/ubuntu2004.json
index dd91fb7bc542..f3b7a68ac896 100644
--- a/images/linux/ubuntu2004.json
+++ b/images/linux/ubuntu2004.json
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 {
     "variables": {
-        "commit_url": "{{env `COMMIT_URL`}}",
         "client_id": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_ID`}}",
         "client_secret": "{{env `ARM_CLIENT_SECRET`}}",
         "subscription_id": "{{env `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID`}}",
@@ -14,7 +13,6 @@
         "virtual_network_subnet_name": "{{env `VNET_SUBNET`}}",
         "private_virtual_network_with_public_ip": "{{env `PRIVATE_VIRTUAL_NETWORK_WITH_PUBLIC_IP`}}",
         "image_folder": "/imagegeneration",
-        "commit_file": "/imagegeneration/commit.txt",
         "imagedata_file": "/imagegeneration/imagedata.json",
         "metadata_file": "/imagegeneration/metadatafile",
         "installer_script_folder": "/imagegeneration/installers",
@@ -61,9 +59,7 @@
             "type": "shell",
             "inline": [
                 "mkdir {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}",
-                "echo {{user `commit_url`}} > {{user `commit_file`}}",
-                "chmod +r {{user `commit_file`}}"
+                "chmod 777 {{user `image_folder`}}"
             ],
             "execute_command": "sudo sh -c '{{ .Vars }} {{ .Path }}'"
         },
diff --git a/images/win/Windows2016-Azure.json b/images/win/Windows2016-Azure.json
index e4a3893d382d..cbfbcbaddcd5 100644
--- a/images/win/Windows2016-Azure.json
+++ b/images/win/Windows2016-Azure.json
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
         "storage_account": "{{env `ARM_STORAGE_ACCOUNT`}}",
         "temp_resource_group_name": "{{env `TEMP_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME`}}",
         "location": "{{env `ARM_RESOURCE_LOCATION`}}",
-        "ssh_password": "{{env `SSH_PASSWORD`}}",
         "virtual_network_name": "{{env `VNET_NAME`}}",
         "virtual_network_resource_group_name": "{{env `VNET_RESOURCE_GROUP`}}",
         "virtual_network_subnet_name": "{{env `VNET_SUBNET`}}",
@@ -20,12 +19,9 @@
         "root_folder": "C:",
         "toolset_json_path": "{{env `TEMP`}}\\toolset.json",
         "image_folder": "C:\\image",
-        "commit_file": "C:\\image\\commit.txt",
         "imagedata_file": "C:\\imagedata.json",
-        "metadata_file": "C:\\image\\metadata.txt",
         "helper_script_folder": "C:\\Program Files\\WindowsPowerShell\\Modules\\",
         "psmodules_root_folder": "C:\\Modules",
-        "commit_url": "LATEST",
         "install_user": "installer",
         "install_password": null,
         "capture_name_prefix": "packer",
@@ -34,7 +30,7 @@
         "github_feed_token": "{{env `GITHUB_FEED_TOKEN`}}",
         "announcements": "{{env `ANNOUNCEMENTS`}}"
     },
-    "sensitive-variables": ["install_password", "ssh_password", "client_secret", "github_feed_token"],
+    "sensitive-variables": ["install_password", "client_secret", "github_feed_token"],
     "builders": [
         {
             "name": "vhd",
@@ -70,9 +66,7 @@
         {
             "type": "powershell",
             "inline":[
-                "New-Item -Path {{user `image_folder`}} -ItemType Directory -Force",
-                "Write-Output {{user `commit_url`}} > {{user `commit_file` }}",
-                "Write-Host (Get-Content -Path {{user `commit_file`}})"
+                "New-Item -Path {{user `image_folder`}} -ItemType Directory -Force"
             ]
         },
         {
diff --git a/images/win/Windows2019-Azure.json b/images/win/Windows2019-Azure.json
index 8cd69ef8a5c9..e3eb9571e8a1 100644
--- a/images/win/Windows2019-Azure.json
+++ b/images/win/Windows2019-Azure.json
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
         "storage_account": "{{env `ARM_STORAGE_ACCOUNT`}}",
         "temp_resource_group_name": "{{env `TEMP_RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME`}}",
         "location": "{{env `ARM_RESOURCE_LOCATION`}}",
-        "ssh_password": "{{env `SSH_PASSWORD`}}",
         "virtual_network_name": "{{env `VNET_NAME`}}",
         "virtual_network_resource_group_name": "{{env `VNET_RESOURCE_GROUP`}}",
         "virtual_network_subnet_name": "{{env `VNET_SUBNET`}}",
@@ -20,12 +19,9 @@
         "root_folder": "C:",
         "toolset_json_path": "{{env `TEMP`}}\\toolset.json",
         "image_folder": "C:\\image",
-        "commit_file": "C:\\image\\commit.txt",
         "imagedata_file": "C:\\imagedata.json",
-        "metadata_file": "C:\\image\\metadata.txt",
         "helper_script_folder": "C:\\Program Files\\WindowsPowerShell\\Modules\\",
         "psmodules_root_folder": "C:\\Modules",
-        "commit_id": "LATEST",
         "install_user": "installer",
         "install_password": null,
         "capture_name_prefix": "packer",
@@ -34,7 +30,7 @@
         "github_feed_token": "{{env `GITHUB_FEED_TOKEN`}}",
         "announcements": "{{env `ANNOUNCEMENTS`}}"
     },
-    "sensitive-variables": ["install_password", "ssh_password", "client_secret", "github_feed_token"],
+    "sensitive-variables": ["install_password", "client_secret", "github_feed_token"],
     "builders": [
         {
             "name": "vhd",
@@ -70,9 +66,7 @@
         {
             "type": "powershell",
             "inline":[
-                "New-Item -Path {{user `image_folder`}} -ItemType Directory -Force",
-                "Write-Output {{user `commit_id`}} > {{user `commit_file`}}",
-                "Write-Host (Get-Content -Path {{user `commit_file`}})"
+                "New-Item -Path {{user `image_folder`}} -ItemType Directory -Force"
             ]
         },
         {