WSUS Driver Synchronization: Microsoft postpones end
Microsoft wanted to switch off driver distribution via WSUS (WSUS Driver Synchronization) on 18 April. The end has now been postponed.
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Microsoft wanted to stop distributing new drivers via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) on April 18 of this year; the service has the status “deprecated” and has therefore been sidelined. Due to apparently weighty feedback, the company is now backing down. However, a new schedule has not yet been set.
(Image: Screenshot / dmk)
In the Windows IT Pro blog of the Microsoft Techcommunity, the company now writes that support for Driver Update Synchronization will be continued. The decision is based on “valuable feedback” that Microsoft received and leads to the postponement of plans to end support in April.
“Deprecated” only means “no longer actively developed”
The author of the article goes on to write that the function can still be used in organizations. “Deprecation simply means that the service is no longer being actively developed and that it will be discontinued and removed in a future release”. Meanwhile, services in “deprecated” status would remain supported while affected organizations can explore options and plans for change.
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“In light of the many of you who have already moved to cloud-based driver services, we initially proposed removing WSUS Driver Synchronization. Thanks to your feedback, especially in disconnected device scenarios, we have revised this plan,” Microsoft continues. Such offline systems, which are only supplied with a central WSUS, can be found in the shipping industry, for example.
The Microsoft employee goes on to explain: “Effective immediately, we are postponing plans to remove WSUS Driver Synchronization. WSUS will continue to synchronize driver updates from the Windows Update Service and be able to import them from the Microsoft Update Catalog.” Meanwhile, Microsoft is working on a new roadmap to streamline services for customers. Now is a good time to look at alternative technologies for better security and productivity that are still being supported. Microsoft offers Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch for Windows 11 devices, for example; Intune offers Windows driver update management.
At the end of January, Microsoft published a 90-day reminder about the end of WSUS driver synchronization.
(dmk)
