Infrastructure Briefing — March 24, 2020
Microsoft announced a temporary pause on optional non-security updates for Windows starting May 2020 to prioritize security and reliability during COVID-19, requiring patch management teams to adjust maintenance calendars.
Executive briefing: On , Microsoft stated it would suspend optional non-security C and D week releases for supported Windows versions beginning May 2020 to reduce operational risk during COVID-19 response. Security updates (B releases) would continue.
Why it matters: Patch management schedules and validation pipelines should reflect the pause so teams focus on security fixes and critical quality updates.
- Calendar adjustments: Update maintenance windows to expect only Patch Tuesday security updates; reschedule optional feature validation efforts.
- Configuration management: Ensure WSUS and SCCM configurations do not depend on optional preview rollups for compliance baselines.
- Communication: Notify application owners of reduced change volume and reinforce testing for security updates that continue monthly.
- Monitoring: Track Microsoft release notes for any exceptions or resumption timelines as pandemic conditions evolve.
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