Microsoft has officially announced the deprecation of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), although it will continue to maintain its current functionality and publish updates.

Hints about WSUS's deprecation have been circulating since last August, when it was indicated that it would not be developed further for Windows Server 2025.

The deprecation of WSUS primarily affects enterprise environments that utilize it for device updates, while home users and those using Microsoft Configuration Manager remain unaffected.

The announcement regarding WSUS's deprecation has sparked discussions among users, raising concerns about the implications for centralized automated patching.

For a comprehensive overview of Windows Server 2025, readers can refer to the latest issue of iX magazine, which also covers updates to Active Directory.

Microsoft's Nir Froimovici confirmed that no new capabilities will be introduced for WSUS, and new feature requests will not be accepted, marking a significant shift in their update management strategy.

Organizations are encouraged to transition to cloud-based tools like Windows Autopatch, Microsoft Intune, and Azure Update Manager for better update management, despite the complexities involved.

The long-term strategy emphasizes the shift towards cloud solutions, which require an internet connection and a subscription, potentially posing challenges for high-security environments.

WSUS has been crucial for large organizations, allowing them to test updates before deploying them across multiple systems, even in air-gapped networks.

Once Windows Server 2025 is released, users will have the flexibility to run it on-premises, in Azure, or in other environments, enhancing its versatility.

A standout feature of Windows Server 2025 will be 'hotpatching', which allows important patches to be installed without requiring a system restart, significantly improving service availability.

With hotpatching, the frequency of mandatory reboots will decrease from twelve times a year to quarterly, although some updates will still necessitate reboots.