Software Updates

Update Channels Change to Microsoft 365 Apps

Richard Green on 13th May 2020

In the ever changing landscape of Microsoft 365, there’s more news and this time it’s a change regarding the names of the Microsoft 365 Apps Update Channels and cadence. Two weeks ago, we posted about the formal product name change from Office 365 ProPlus to Microsoft 365 Apps. Following this change, we now have another change and that is in the Update Channels mechanism for the products.

Previously there were three Update Channels: Monthly, Semi-annual Channel Targeted, and Semi-annual. Monthly meant you got the latest features every month. Semi-annual Channel (SAC) meant you got updates every six months. Semi-annual Channel Targeted (SAC-T) meant you got updates every six months but that you were in the first wave to get the SAC update slightly ahead of everyone else but that all changes now.

Managing Windows 10 Updates using Microsoft Intune

Richard Green on 1st April 2020

Previously, we wrote about using Azure Update Management to perform Software Updates on Windows Server-based systems but what about Windows 10. In this article, we will explore Managing Windows 10 Updates using Microsoft Intune.

In on-premises environments, we use solutions like Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS), System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), or Microsoft Endpoint Manager. Yes, you can continue to use SCCM and Endpoint Manager with their Cloud Attach Co-Management features, however, what about if you have a cloud-native environment? What about if you have an environment where users are using non-domain joined devices?

Manage Software Updates with Azure Update Management

Richard Green on 16th February 2020

The answer is Azure Update Management so what is the problem we are trying to solve? At Arcible, we have some on-premises servers. To keep safe, secure, and compliant, these servers need patching just like any other server does. Our environment is small and not big enough to justify a Microsoft Endpoint Manager (formerly Configuration Manager) deployment and Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) is too painful and manual to manage.

So if we aren’t using Microsoft Endpoint Manager or WSUS, what do we do? We want a solution that’s automated to reduce the admin overhead but while being lightweight and not costing much.