Microsoft is making a number of changes to its Windows 10 servicing to provide enterprises more time and flexibility in the Windows 10 update cycle.
The tech giant started releasing updates to Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus from April 2017, and set a semi-annual schedule for it. Thus, the updates are released twice a year in September and March. Every release supports the current version for 18 months.
The aim of these releases is to help enterprises shift to a modern desktop. While leading companies like Mars and Accenture have successfully shifted to modern desktop using the regular updates, many customers shared their feedback that they need more time and flexibility in the Windows 10 update cycle.
Responding to the feedbacks, Microsoft announced that all the currently supported feature updates of Windows 10 Enterprises and Education editions will be supported for 30 months from their original date. These include Window 10 versions 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803.
The future feature updates of Windows 10 Enterprises and Education editions (with September targeted release) will be supported for next 30 months. With this, the enterprises will have a longer deployment cycles so that they take enough time to plan, test, and deploy.
Whereas, the future feature updates (with March targeted release) will continue to be supported for 18 months, retaining the option for customers to update twice a year.
The changes will provide enterprises additional 12 months to apply the new features of Windows 10. It will be especially useful for enterprises that have complex IT environments and need more time to adapt to changes.
Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, and Office 365 ProPlus will remain unaffected by the changes and continue to be supported for 18 months.
Also read: Microsoft renovates Outlook for Windows and online for faster and customizable experience
“You’ve been talking, and we’ve been listening. Specifically, we’ve heard your feedback on desktop deployment, and we’re working hard to introduce new capabilities, services, and policies to help you on your way. The combination of Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus delivers the most productive, most secure end user computing experience available. But we recognize that it takes time to both upgrade devices and operationalize new update processes,” wrote Jared Spataro, Corporate VP for Office and Windows Marketing, in a blog post.
