As organizations increasingly rely on a stable and secure IT environment, balancing security updates with user productivity has become a key challenge. Enter Hotpatch, a feature for Windows 11 Enterprise, now available in public preview for version 24H2. This feature allows businesses to deploy critical security patches without the usual downtime caused by reboots.
Let’s explore how Hotpatching works, its implementation details, and the practical benefits for IT administrators.
Quality Updates
Intune will take care of the deployment of Windows quality updates, ensuring devices remain secure and up-to-date while minimizing administrative effort. We of course have a goal of maintaining devices on the latest quality update through a structured approach that includes deferral periods, deadlines, and monitoring compliance to ensure updates are applied efficiently.
Quality updates are deployed in a phased manner across deployment rings. This phased rollout strategy ensures that updates are carefully tested on smaller groups before being released to the broader organization, reducing the risk of widespread issues. For critical vulnerabilities, updates can be expedited outside the regular schedule to provide timely protection against emerging threats.
Administrators have full control over the update process within Intune, with options to schedule, pause, or resume deployments as needed. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor update strategies to their operational needs while maintaining a strong security posture.
With the current quality update we install we have a specific user experience which hotpatch will take to another level.
What is Hotpatching?
Hotpatching enables live security updates, allowing updates to be applied instantly without requiring a reboot. By focusing solely on security patches, Microsoft ensures that these updates are lightweight and targeted, avoiding unnecessary disruptions.
Traditionally, we as an IT admin had to navigate the balance between applying security patches promptly and maintaining user productivity. Hotpatching flips this narrative by reducing reboot cycles and enabling near-zero downtime.
How Does Hotpatching Work?
The Hotpatching process is straightforward yet impactful. Updates are rolled out in a structured manner to ensure consistency and reliability:
- Quarterly Baseline Updates
- In January, April, July, and October, devices receive a baseline update. This includes cumulative security fixes, feature updates, and enhancements. These updates do require a reboot.
- Monthly Hotpatch Updates
- For the remaining months (February, March, May, June, August, September, November, December), only hotpatch updates are released. These updates include critical security fixes and are applied without a restart.
By following this model, organizations reduce their annual reboots from 12 to just 4 while still ensuring comprehensive security.
Here’s how we can incorporate a table to clarify the types of patches applied under the Hotpatching process:
Breakdown of patches
Here’s a breakdown of the different patch types applied throughout the year:
| Patch Type | Description | Frequency | Reboot Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline Patch | A cumulative update including all security patches, feature updates, and system enhancements. | Quarterly (January, April, July, October) | ✅ Yes |
| Hotpatch Update | A focused update containing only critical security patches for immediate threat mitigation. | Monthly (other months) | ❌ No |
| Feature Update | Major updates introducing new features, performance improvements, and user experience enhancements. | As per release schedule | ✅ Yes |
| Non-Security Updates | Optional updates for bug fixes and minor improvements outside of security. | Varies | ✅/❌ Optional |
Key Benefits
Hotpatching is not just about minimizing reboots; it’s about rethinking how we handle security updates. Here are the standout benefits:
- Seamless User Experience
Employees no longer face sudden interruptions due to update reboots, which means more time for productivity and fewer helpdesk calls. - Focused Updates
Hotpatches are tailored for security fixes, avoiding the bloat of non-essential updates. - Time Saved for IT Admins
With fewer planned reboots and automated patch management via Intune, IT teams can focus on strategic initiatives rather than operational firefighting.
Requirements for Hotpatch
Enabling Hotpatching requires specific prerequisites:
- Licensing:
- Windows Enterprise E3/E5 or equivalent subscriptions, such as Microsoft 365 A3/A5 or Windows 365 Enterprise.
- Eligible Devices:
- Devices running Windows 11 Enterprise version 24H2 (build 26100.2033 or later).
- Management Tools:
- Intune or Windows Autopatch for update deployment and management.
Once configured, Intune can automatically identify eligible devices and deploy the appropriate hotpatch policies after setting the policy
Policy to enable in Intune
When going to Windows | Windows updates | Quality updates we can click on +Create and +Windows quality update policy
Give the policy an name and click Next
Slide the When available, apply without restarting the device to Allow
Assign the policy to a group.. now the policy will come down to our devices. We are seeing an extra 3 registry keys
and under Settings | Windows Updates | Advanced options | Configured update policies we can MDM configured the new hotpatch setting.
User experience
Without Hotpatch enabled, the user needs to restart
With Hotpatch, no restart necessary
Conclusion
This new feature will represents a leap forward in update management for Windows 11 Enterprise. By reducing reboots while maintaining robust security, this feature helps IT admins deliver a secure and seamless experience to end users.
As we embrace this new update feature, the focus shifts from reactive patching to proactive security without compromise. Organizations deploying this new update mechanism can expect smoother operations, enhanced productivity, and most importantly a safer environment for their users.