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

Start with pilot ring — Test before broad deployment
Monitor closely — Check for issues in first week
Communicate with users — Tell them when updates happen
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!