Windows as a service is more about Windows deployment than it is updating; in other words, the update mechanism is used to deliver—or deploy—new builds of Windows instead of relying on more traditional deployment methods.
As an organization, this means that instead of planning and performing operating system upgrades, such as from Windows 7 to Windows 10, you use Windows Update to continually introduce new Windows client features as the operating system evolves. This means that the update process becomes a continual process, based on small incremental updates rather than significant upgrades every few years.
Two types of updates are delivered in this way:
- Feature updates These add significant functionality to the Windows 11 operating system. With Windows 10, these updates were delivered twice annually. Now, both Windows 10 and Windows 11 receive Feature updates once per year, typically in the autumn. Each Feature update is referred to by its year of release and its release point in that year. Thus, 22H2 refers to the 2022 Feature updates released in the second half (H2) of 2022.
- Quality updates These provide reliability and security updates and fixes. Microsoft deploys these updates monthly on the second Tuesday of the month. They are cumulative, meaning that even if you miss an update, you receive all previous updates by applying a subsequent update.
Deferrals
Business users of Windows 11 can determine when these updates apply. Broadly, you can configure deferral periods for both Feature and Quality updates. These deferrals define the number of days that you defer the application of released updates.
When an update is imminent, Microsoft makes it available to early adopters. When the update is finalized, the update is distributed to Windows devices worldwide.
As part of the update planning process, you should consider participating in the early release scheme for updates for some of your users’ computers. This will enable you to test the effect of the updates on your organization’s Windows 11 computers. You can also use deferrals to determine precisely when you will apply it to most of your computers after an update has been released.
You can continue to use a Windows 11 version typically for three years after it has been made widely available. You must then start the process over again. It’s quite likely that many organizations will choose to perform continual, rolling updates. Consequently, some of your users’ computers might be using one version of Windows 11 while other users are using earlier or later versions.
Need More Review? Windows 11 Release Information
If you want to know more about Windows update cadence and support windows, visit the Microsoft website at https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information.
