Windows Update for Business: Will it make life easier?

Windows Update for Business (WUB) is an entirely new product for business users who want to implement Operating System (OS) updates within their environment.

Microsoft claims WUB, which will be offered free to Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise users, will create a more nuanced update process, with much greater control given to admins, essentially by allowing them to decide which devices in their deployment receive upgrades and when.

 Those new features are being packaged as ‘Distribution Rings’ and ‘Maintenance Windows’ – and are amongst a number of new features included in the WUB package – which is as follows:

• Distribution rings: allows businesses to create update ‘fast lanes’ and ‘slow lanes’ (or ‘rings’), controlling which devices in their deployment receive updates first – or, alternatively, delay those updates until problems can be resolved.

• Maintenance windows: allows a timetable and schedule for updates to be worked out for all devices in a deployment – no more annoying downtime during working hours or productivity dips.

• Peer to peer delivery: efficient delivery of updates to locations with even limited bandwidth.

• Integration: WUB integrates with existing tools like Enterprise Mobility Suite – ensuring simple management of all system branches is maintained.

WUB will allow admins to update specified devices running Windows 10 – like employee tablets and smartphones – but hold back updates for others until testing has ironed out the kinks.