Microsoft has announced some changes to the release cadence of its Configuration Manager, which is part of the Microsoft Intune platform managing devices and applications.
According to a blog post by the Configuration Manager team, the changes are intended to align with the Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise servicing model, simplify the update process, and provide more flexibility for customers. The main changes are:
- The current branch of Configuration Manager will be updated twice a year, in March and September, instead of three times a year as before. Each update will be supported for 18 months from its general availability date.
- The technical preview branch of Configuration Manager will continue to receive monthly updates with new features and improvements for testing and feedback purposes.
- The long-term servicing branch (LTSB) of Configuration Manager will be renamed to extended support branch (ESB) and will be updated every two years, starting with version 2103. Each update will be supported for five years from its general availability date.
- Customers who are using Configuration Manager current branch version 2002 or later can switch to the extended support branch at any time without reinstalling the product or losing any functionality. Customers who are using Configuration Manager current branch version 1910 or earlier will need to update to version 2002 or later before switching to the extended support branch.
Changes Do Not Affect Co-Management
Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager is a combination of Intune and SCCM. It also includes tools such as Desktop Analytics, Device Management Admin Center, and the co-management feature. The feature called co-management allows devices using SCCM or Intune to be managed. It replaced System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) in November 2019.
The Configuration Manager team also clarified that these changes do not affect the co-management feature that allows customers to manage devices with both Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune. Co-management will continue to be supported on both the current branch and the extended support branch of Configuration Manager.
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