The writing seems to be on the wall for several on-premises technologies IT admins have used over the years will be fully deprecated in the future. One of these is Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). WSUS feels like a product that hasn’t really had major updates in several years. However, official announcements from Microsoft bring the deprecation of the product more into focus. Let’s look at this deprecation and also what alternatives and solutions Microsoft recommends moving forward.
Deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization
Microsoft plans to deprecate WSUS driver synchronization on April 18, 2025. On-premises environments can still download drivers from the Microsoft Update catalog. However, it is worth noting that you won’t be able to import drivers into WSUS at this point.
Microsoft makes mention that you can use the device driver packages construct to add driver packages to Windows images or distribute them as you need. You can learn more about device driver packages on the Microsoft Learn link here: Device Driver Packages | Microsoft Learn.
What does this deprecation mean?
Microsoft’s announcement and moves to make WSUS driver synchronization a deprecated feature help to set the tone for the product long-term. Microsoft’s broader strategy for organizations leveraging traditional tools like WSUS is to encourage the adoption of cloud equivalent tools in this space, such as Microsoft Intune.
Microsoft’s cloud solutions
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the Microsoft cloud solutions for managing endpoints and other resources.
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Intune is a purpose-built solution that supports hybrid and remote workforces and infrastructure. It is a cloud-based management solution, which means it does not have many of the limitations of traditional on-premises solutions, like “line-of-sight” network connectivity between the management solution server and endpoints.
Intune functionality allows organizations to manage things like driver update processes and also take advantage of cloud-based endpoint management. It also supports a wide range of devices operated by end users. Microsoft Intune supports Android, Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) iOS/iPadOS, Linux Ubuntu Desktop, macOS, and Windows client devices. So, it can manage these devices with policies in the Intune framework.
Windows Update for Business
Another management solution that IT admins can use is Windows Update for Business. It is a free service for Windows 10 and Windows 11 editions as follows:
- Pro, including Pro for Workstations
- Education
- Enterprise, including Enterprise LTSC, IoT Enterprise, and IoT Enterprise LTSC
This solution allows IT admins to stay updated with the latest security updates and Windows features by connecting their endpoints directly to the Windows Update service. It can also work in harmony with Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions like Microsoft Intune or legacy mechanisms like Group Policy to configure the Windows Update for Business settings for when and how devices are updated.
Even though directly connected to Windows Updates, it gives IT admins more granular controls over which update offerings and experiences are available to users. You can:
- Determine the types of Windows Updates available to devices in the organization
- Control when updates are applied – You can also defer or pause update installation for a period of time
- Use cycles of updates or waves to update devices in the organization
Implementing new tools and considerations
Organizations will no doubt want to start planning now for the future driver deprecation for WSUS as well as continued deprecation of the overall WSUS solution. Cloud management is where Microsoft’s focus will remain moving forward.
Managing endpoints, including mobile and Windows devices, from the cloud makes a lot of sense with the hybrid infrastructure configurations most organizations are leveraging today. Microsoft certainly has a couple of compelling options, such as Microsoft Intune and Windows Update for Business.
Keep in mind, like most technologies that continue to evolve in the cloud, Microsoft’s cloud offerings will likely not have all the feature parity of features with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) capabilities. However, many organizations may find that the current functionality of Microsoft Intune, along with Windows Update for Business, may suit their needs. This, however, is something they need to keep in mind.
There are also third-party solutions that handle Windows Updates and may be leveraged with cloud management for lifecycle management of Windows Updates for remote and hybrid endpoints if
Recap of Alternatives to WSUS
As organizations transition away from WSUS, several key alternatives should be considered:
- Microsoft Intune: Microsoft Intune is a solution that organizations might choose if they are looking for a cloud-based approach for driver and update management. Intune is a unified endpoint management solution that simplifies the deployment and management of updates across many different devices.
- Windows Update for Business: It can work in tandem with Microsoft Intune and provides driver and firmware updates capabilities. This service is a good solution for businesses managing a large number of remote or hybrid workers.
- Device Driver Packages: For on-premises environments, companies can use device driver packages to streamline updates by bundling drivers and firmware updates.
Steps to transition
Organizations need to take the right steps when transitioning from a traditional WSUS solution, including planning and testing.
Key steps will include but are not limited to:
- Assessment – Take a look at current WSUS deployments. Identify the changes needed to transition to other solutions, including Microsoft Intune and Windows Update for Business.
- Testing – Organizations will need to test patch management and software deployment using the new solutions and make sure these meet organizational requirements.
- Training – Training may be needed or warranted for IT admins to become familiar with managing devices with new tools and processes.
Wrapping up
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) has long been a staple in the enterprise data center for keeping Microsoft Servers and clients updated with the latest security and feature updates. However, with the shift of most organizations to a hybrid cloud configuration, WSUS is now a less effective tool for managing endpoints.
In addition, with the continued deprecation of functionality and future support from Microsoft of WSUS, illustrated by this latest deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization, organizations need to plan for transitioning from Windows Server Update Services to another tool for managing their endpoints.
Microsoft Intune, in conjunction with Windows Update for Business, may be an option for businesses that are already using Microsoft Cloud services. These tools bring the management of updates for endpoints to Microsoft cloud management.
For more detailed guidance and resources around the deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization, see the official blog post here: Deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization | Windows IT Pro Blog (microsoft.com).
