When Windows 10 arrives this summer (and Windows Server 2016 next year), Microsoft is going to be making some noticeable changes to how and when it delivers security fixes, hotfixes and rollups.
What can IT pros do now to prepare for the new Windows world order?
Company officials provided some potentially controversial suggestions and guidance during Microsoft's Ignite conference in Chicago. In a session entitled "Getting Ready for Windows 10: Servicing Windows Client and Server in a Managed Environment Today" (Video and slides available here; a good summary from Microsoft Premier Field Engineer Robert Smith is here), Thierry Paquay, a manager on Microsoft's Customer Experience Engineering team, discussed where Microsoft is and where it's going with its patching and updating process.
The reason Paquay's guidance could be considered controversial is Microsoft's current patching track record leaves quite a bit to be desired on the quality front, as more than a few have noted. At Ignite, Microsoft execs said they believe the company's move to require more users to apply Windows patches in sequential order on a regular basis will help improve the current Patch Tuesday approach.
Microsoft's track record with security fixes is better than many might expect, Paquay told Ignite attendees. He said in 2014, 87 percent of Windows and IE security updates were successful and didn't require a re-release, a percentage he maintained was quite favorable.
