Microsoft has today announced a new update option for Windows 10. IT pros should probably take notice as it adds another layer to an update strategy that some find confusing. The company says the new update ability is available for all Windows 10 builds running 1703 and over. Of course, build 1703 is the recently launched Creators Update.
Essentially, the new update option is another Cumulative Update scenario, albeit with a difference. These new Cumulative Updates will now include any security fixes.
Instead, the new Windows 10 patches will be shown as “Updates” in Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services. In a blog post to announce the changes, Microsoft says it will sometimes roll out cumulative releases sans security fixes that focus on critical issues. These will be labelled as “
In a blog post to announce the changes, Microsoft says it will sometimes roll out cumulative releases sans security fixes that focus on critical issues. These will be labelled as “Critical Updates”.
Microsoft says it has made the decision based on customer feedback.
Until now, the company rills out software and security fixes under cumulative updates once a month. Known as Update Tuesday, this schedule meant customer had to wait for updates.
The company says with the new system, Windows 10 customers will get more than one update per month. Microsoft points to the following benefits:
- Deploy each of them just like the updates on “Update Tuesday.” This enables the organization’s PCs to get the latest fixes more quickly.
- Deploy each of them to a subset of devices. This enables the organization to ensure that these new non-security fixes work well, prior to those same fixes being included in the next “Update Tuesday” cumulative update which will be deployed throughout the organization.
- Selectively deploy them, based on whether they address specific issues affecting the organization, ahead of the next “Update Tuesday” cumulative update.
- Don’t deploy them at all. There is no harm in doing this since the same fixes will be included in the “Update Tuesday” cumulative update (along with all the new security fixes).
Patch Tuesday
Despite the new update method, Patch Tuesday for Windows 10 will continue. At least Microsoft makes no mention of it being discontinued. For business users running Configuration Manager and Windows Server Update Services will see Patch Tuesday release labelled as “Security Update”.
