Windows Update for Business Deployment

Managing Windows updates in enterprise requires a strategy. Windows Update for Business Deployment in Intune gives you control over when and how updates are installed.

Understanding Update Types

Quality Updates

• Security patches
• Bug fixes
• Released monthly (Patch Tuesday)
• Mandatory

Feature Updates

• New Windows versions (22H2 → 23H2)
• Released bi-annually
• Optional but recommended

Creating Deployment Rings

Ring 1: Pilot (IT)

# Create via Intune or Graph
$RingParams = @{
    DisplayName = "Pilot - IT"
    RingType = "featureUpdate"
    TargetVersion = "Windows 11 24H2"
    DeferralDays = 0
    OfferDays = 0
}

Ring 2: Fast

• Defer 7 days
• IT and power users

Ring 3: Broad

• Defer 14-30 days
• General users

Ring 4: Critical

• Defer 60+ days
• Security only

Configuring Update Policies

Quality Update Policy

# Via Intune:
# Devices → Windows → Update rings → Create

# Key settings:
# - Automatic update behavior: Auto-install and restart
# - Active hours start/end: Configure user work hours
# - Days until deferral: 0-4 weeks
# - Require user input: Yes/No

Feature Update Policy

# Devices → Windows → Feature updates → Create

# Settings:
# - Target version: Windows 11 24H2
# - Deferral days: 0-365
# - Offer days: 0-28 after release

Business Hours Configuration

# Configure active hours
# This prevents restarts during work hours
# 
# Recommended:
# - Start: 8:00 AM
# - End: 6:00 PM
# - User control: Allow

Driver Updates

# Enable driver updates
# Devices → Configuration profiles → Delivery Optimization
# 
# Settings:
# - Download mode: LAN (1)
# - Enable peer caching: Yes
# - Maximum cache size: 10-50%

Managing Restarts

# Configure restart behavior
# 
# Options:
# - Auto restart after update: Yes
# - Restart check frequency: Hourly
# - Bypass active hours: No
# - User can pause: Yes/No

Delivery Optimization

Reduces bandwidth by using peer caching:

# Enable via Group Policy or Intune
# 
# Download modes:
# 0 = BITS
# 1 = HTTP only, no peering
# 2 = HTTP blended with LAN
# 3 = HTTP blended with WAN
# 99 = Simple download mode
# 100 = BITS only

Monitoring Updates

# Check update status via Graph
Get-MgDeviceManagementWindowsQualityUpdate -All | 
    Select-Object DisplayName, ComponentName, KBNumber, DeploymentDate

# Check device compliance
Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice -All | 
    Where-Object { $_.osVersion -like "*22H2*" }

Common Issues

Updates Not Installing

• Check network connectivity
• Verify disk space (minimum 10GB)
• Check for conflicting policies

Restart Loop

• Configure active hours
• Enable “Notify user”

Drivers Reverting

• Exclude drivers from updates
• Use specific driver versions

Best Practices

1. Start with pilot ring — Test before broad deployment
2. Monitor closely — Check for issues in first week
3. Communicate with users — Tell them when updates happen
4. Keep rings staggered — Don’t deploy to everyone at once

Wrap-Up

Windows Update for Business gives enterprise control. Use deployment rings, configure active hours, and monitor closely.

Questions? Drop them below!