Unification of Microsoft Autopatch and Windows Enterprise Update Management

Microsoft is gearing up to revolutionize Windows enterprise update management by unifying Windows Autopatch with the Windows Update for Business deployment service (WUfB-DS). This integration, set to begin in mid-September 2024 and complete by mid-October 2024, aims to streamline the update management experience within Microsoft Intune. By consolidating update capabilities into three main categories—Windows Updates, Tenant Management, and Windows Autopatch Reports—Microsoft is making it easier for users to automate and deploy updates seamlessly.

The Windows Updates category will allow users to create and assign policies for Quality, Feature, and Driver updates, ensuring devices are always up-to-date. Tenant Management will enable the organization of devices into different update rings, such as pilot, production, or test, using Autopatch groups. Additionally, the Support requests blade will facilitate the creation of tickets for further assistance. The Windows Autopatch Reports category will provide various reports to analyze update performance and troubleshoot any issues, enhancing the overall reliability of devices.

Existing customers will retain their current licensing rights, including Microsoft Intune, Entra ID Premium, and Microsoft 365/Windows 11 Enterprise E3/E5, and Microsoft 365 F3, with these rights extending to Windows 365 Enterprise. Organizations with A3, A5, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscriptions will also maintain their license rights for WUfB-DS capabilities.

To prepare for these changes, organizations should inform their teams and visit the Intune admin center for support. If assistance is needed, service requests can be filed through the Intune admin center. Additional details will be provided on the Microsoft documentation site post-release. This update is designed to make PC update management more efficient and user-friendly, ensuring that all necessary functionalities are maintained while simplifying the overall process.

This update is poised to make PC update management more efficient and user-friendly, ensuring all necessary functionalities are maintained while simplifying the overall process. Organizations should prepare by informing their teams and utilizing the Intune admin center for support and service requests.

Robert Borges

About Robert...

I have been in the IT industry since 1993 focusing mainly on networking. Though I got an early start as an amateur computer enthusiast and wrote my first database app at age 12, I started my professional career working in the MIS department of one of the largest liquor distributors in the northeast. I started out there as a systems operator on the company’s two mainframe systems. From there I moved into PC support, and help design and implement the company’s first client-server network… This was back in the days of Win NT 3.51 when I worked on my first migration to Windows NT 4.0 server.

From there I went on to work with Novell 3.x and 4.x along with Windows domains and Microsft's brand new Active Directory. Working my way up from technician to specialist, to an administrator, and eventually all the way up to Sr. Engineer. I spent many years working for MSPs/consulting firms, 9 of which I owned and operated my own firm.

Over the years, I have worked with (at an expert level) various versions of Windows client and server operating systems (including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019); various virtualization technologies (Hyper-V, VMware, etc.); MS-SQL server 6.5- 2014 R2; Exchange 4-2019, and much more.  Over the years I have built a lot of experience around the Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 cloud environments.

I am now CTO at Infused Innovations where our team is focusing on helping clients build a Secure Intelligent Workplace through InfoSec (Zero Trusts Framework), Modern Workplace, and Business Intelligence.

I have been heavily involved in the IT user group community, including serving as president of the board of Boston User Groups, Inc., and president of IT-Pro User Group. In 2017/2018 Microsoft awarded me the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award, with a focus of Microsoft Azure cloud, for my efforts in the IT community.

I am in a constant state of learning about new products, and new versions of products. Many of which we end up implementing in lab environments and sometimes for our clients. I have a very broad range of expertise and experience. It is my goal to share some of this experience on this blog to help enrich the IT community.

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