Windows Autopatch: Microsoft Starts Public Preview

In early April, Microsoft introduced a new feature for enterprise licensing: the new Autopatch feature should make the work of administrators easier by fully automating security and maintenance updates. Now there is an update. The new Windows Autopatch feature can now be tried out.

According to that Bleeping Computer Online Magazine, Microsoft is now adding the new feature to the first Microsoft 365 instances participating in the Insider program. A first preview version of Windows Autopatch is available there.

Windows Autopatch manages update deployment

As a new service, Autopatch should enable automatic updates of Windows and Microsoft 365 software in enterprise environments and be partially configurable. Windows Autopatch automatically manages the delivery of Windows 10 and Windows 11 quality and feature updates, drivers, firmware, and Microsoft 365 Apps for business updates.

Windows Autopatch automates update management

By the way, the autopatch option has different levels of delivery of the updates. According to Microsoft Autopatch automatically divides four device groups, which are then called test rings. Each test string contains a minimum number of devices, the “first ring” about 1 percent of all endpoints that need to be kept up to date in an enterprise environment, the “fast ring” about 9 percent, and the “broad ring” “the remainder of 90 percent of devices. The updates will be distributed gradually, starting with the first test string and then rolling out to the larger groups of devices after a validation phase where device performance will be checked and compared to pre-update values.

Microsoft releases more information available in the documentation section, including details on service eligibility, requirements, and features. By the way, Microsoft plans to make the new feature generally available as early as July 2022 – so it can be assumed that the feature is already very mature and only being used in the testing phase to get feedback and suggestions for improvement. Autopatch will later be offered for free to Microsoft customers running Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise E3 licenses or higher.