As part of our vision for simplified Windows management from the cloud, Microsoft has announced deprecation of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Specifically, this means that we are no longer investing in new capabilities, nor are we accepting new feature requests for WSUS. However, we are preserving current functionality and will continue to publish updates through the WSUS channel. We will also support any content already published through the WSUS channel.
↫ Nir Froimovici
What an odd feature to deprecate. Anyone with a large enough fleet of machines probably makes use of Windows Server Update Services, as it adds some much-needed centralised control to the downloading and deployment of Windows updates, so you can do localised partial rollouts for testing, which, as the CrowdStrike debacle showed us once more, is quite important. WSUS also happens to be a local tool, that is set up and run locally, instead of in the cloud, and that’s where we get to the real reason WSUS is being deprecated.
Microsoft is advising IT managers who use WSUS to switch to Microsoft’s alternatives, like Windows Autopatch, Microsoft Intune, and Azure Update Manager. These all happen to run in the cloud, giving up that control WSUS provided by running locally, and they’re not free either – they’re subscription services, of course. I mean, technically WSUS isn’t free either as it’s part of Windows Server, but these cloud services come on top of the cost of Windows Server itself.
Nobody escapes the relentless march of subscription costs.
This is absolutely stupid idea. Pardon for the language.
Those who use WSUS, will not willingly switch to cloud based one.
They will either:
1) Do it with extreme contempt
2) Look for alternatives
The reason one uses WSUS is (a) to make sure all updates are vetted, and do not break the fleet like recent CloudStrike fiasco, (b) the systems are not connected to the Internet in the first place. There are many mission critical deployments who are offline or even “air gapped” for technical and security reasons.
This will force admins to handle updates manually (yes it can still be done. You just download installers, and deploy them, without the help of the update service), and maybe, just maybe, look at alternative operating systems that would not treat them this way.
Microsoft wants everyone to forget that Windows server ever existed and focus on azure. It has been bleeding money on the server products for years, but could take it as long as the consumer products like Xbox and Windows would sell well… now neither does. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273482/segment-revenue-of-microsoft/ for more data.
Cloud and office is now mor than 80% of the revenue. Windows 11 will never take hold, and microsoft knows that after the Vista and 8 fiasco. And windows 12 whilst it could be a success, is unlikely since then they would have to remove all the uwp/modern apps/windows store failiure and return to basics.
Luckily today we have options: Linux on a basic base install with steam and wine plays more windows games than any windows version ever did. And it is not only Linux of course, but soon Haiku can run more windows games than windows, as it has wine, but i am not sure anyone is working on proton.
Of course they were going to do it sooner or later. It gives them more control over the boxes and enables subscription mumbo-jumbo. People must be crazy to still use and invest in Windows-related technologies and OS to SERVE the data. At this point, you are the one doing this to yourself.
That’s it we are switching to GNU/Linux. Nah, it will be fine, all customers will switch from local to cloud based solution and will pay monthly fee for it. Rest assured.
I’m glad I retired when I did — I worked with a control network of WIndows systems which were purposefully isolated from the internet for security. The WSUS server was the only computer accessing the internet for patches and updates. We had no choice but running Windows because the control systems vendors all ran on Windows. This will be a nightmare for my replacement.
So uh what happens to military and government customers who can’t trust Azure and are still on Windows 2003 or 2008? Do they just get to eat bugs and hope nobody pwns them?
military users of windows? ) generals: “cm’on guys, lets open our secret military servers to public networks, nobody pwn them if we update windows monthly” 😀
PFP checks out
Of course, the idea that our government and/or top secret facilities would run Windows of any kind…. but you know there are places you might want better control of “getting” and “distributing”. IMHO, since this is early deprecation, there will be “more on this”.
There are third-party solutions that can manage that type of environment. There have been for years. Sadly Windows isn’t the only software that needs patching in isolated environments.
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