How to continue with WSUS driver updates and synchronization

Microsoft is specifying the future of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS): No new functions, but current services will be retained. IT admins should switch to cloud-based solutions in the long term. What does this mean for companies and driver synchronization?

WSUS: Microsoft’s update service in transition

Microsoft has specified its plans for its Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). The long-standing service, which allows IT administrators to control Windows updates in companies, will no longer receive any new functions in the future. The technology group announced this in a official blog post announced:

As part of our vision of simplified Windows management from the cloud, Microsoft has announced the retirement of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Specifically, this means that we will no longer invest in new features or accept new feature requests for WSUS. However, we will maintain current functionality and continue to release updates through the WSUS channel Microsoft

This means that existing features and previously released content will continue to be supported. The decision marks WSUS’s entry into the “retirement” phase of its product lifecycle.

Impact on companies

For IT departments that heavily use WSUS, this announcement brings both continuity and change. Microsoft emphasizes that the retirement of WSUS will not affect existing functionality or support for Microsoft Configuration Manager.

What is WSUS, what is it used for? WSUS stands for “Windows Server Update Services”. It is a tool developed by Microsoft that helps IT administrators manage Windows updates in corporate networks. Here is an explanation of how administrators use WSUS:

• Centralized management: Administrators can set up a central WSUS server that downloads updates from Microsoft.
• This allows control over the update process across the entire network.
• Bandwidth optimization: Instead of each computer downloading updates from Microsoft individually, the clients download the updates from the local WSUS server. This saves a lot of Internet bandwidth, especially in large networks.
• Selecting and approving updates: Admins can decide which updates are distributed across the network. They can test updates before they are rolled out company-wide.
• Scheduling:Updates can be performed at specific times, e.g. outside of business hours.
• Reporting: WSUS provides reports on the update status of clients on the network. Admins can see which computers are up to date and which still need updates.
• Grouping computers: Computers can be divided into groups to apply different update policies.
• Rollback option: If problems occur, updates can be rolled back.

The WSUS role will also be available in the upcoming Windows Server 2025. Nevertheless, the company expressly recommends that companies switch to cloud-based tools. Alternatives include Windows Autopatch and Microsoft Intune for client update management and Azure Update Manager for server update management.

Driver synchronization is running out

Microsoft had already announced at the end of June that it would stop driver synchronization via WSUS on April 18, 2025. A survey had shown that only 34 percent of users use WSUS for this purpose and would therefore have no problems with a changeover. Only eight percent of respondents expressed concerns about possible effects.

Looking to the future

The latest announcements illustrate Microsoft’s long-term strategy to steer companies towards cloud-based solutions. One example is the recently introduced public preview of hotpatching for Windows Server 2025. This feature allows security updates to be installed without restarting the server – thanks to the integration of Azure Arc services.

Although Microsoft has not given a specific end date for WSUS, the direction is clear: the future of update management in companies should lie in the cloud. IT administrators should keep an eye on this development and develop migration strategies in the medium term.

Change after 20 years

WSUS was first introduced in 2003 as “Software Update Services” and has since become a central tool for many IT departments. It allows companies to manage and distribute updates centrally, which was particularly valuable in times of slow internet connections. The discontinuation of further development marks the end of an era in Windows system administration.

Amit Gohar