Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Big news for desktop professionals supporting Windows 11 Enterprise!

Today we announce the public preview of hotpatch updates for Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2. With hotpatch updates, you can quickly take measures to help protect your organization from the evolving landscape of cyberattacks, while minimizing user disruptions. Hotpatching represents a significant advancement in our journey to help make you and everyone who uses Windows more secure and productive.

Hotpatch updates are scoped and provide a complete set of OS security patches. No additional features are included. They are unique in that they take effect immediately upon installation without requiring you to restart your device, helping to ensure focused, rapid protection.

The first month of each quarter of the calendar year (i.e. January, April, July, and October), devices install the standard monthly security update and restart. This cumulative update contains the latest security fixes, new features, and enhancements. The following two months, devices are offered hotpatch updates, which include only security updates and install without the need to restart. At the start of the next quarter, the cycle repeats.

That’s it. Devices stay secure and productive, and you reduce the number of required restarts for Windows updates from twelve to just four thanks to eight planned hotpatch updates each year!

To take advantage of the public preview, your organization will need the following to be eligible for hotpatching:

• Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2 (Build 26100.2033 or later)
• A Microsoft subscription that includes Windows Enterprise E3 or E5 (e.g. Microsoft 365 A3/A5 or Microsoft 365 F3); or a Windows 365 Enterprise subscription
• Microsoft Intune

Read the full announcement here:

• BLOG: Hotpatch for client comes to Windows 11 Enterprise
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/hotpatch-for-client-comes-to-windows-11-enterprise/4302717

Bookmark our guide to Windows at Microsoft Ignite 2024, then dive into the Microsoft Ignite announcements that reinforce our commitment to getting you and your organization future-ready:

• Windows 365 Link—the first Cloud PC device for Windows 365
• New AI experiences transform productivity on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs
• Hotpatch for client comes to Windows 11 Enterprise
• Elevate security in Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop
• Streamlined, AI-powered update management: Windows Autopatch
• Two new features make Universal Print truly “universal”
• Administrator protection on Windows 11