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Microsoft has announced that it will begin enabling hotpatching updates for all Windows devices automatically, starting from May 2026. The move is likely to raise concerns among administrators who value control over their environments, but Microsoft argues that "hotpatch updates are the quickest way to get secure." Will this change prove to be a success or a significant misstep?
Microsoft is enabling hotpatching updates for all Windows devices automatically starting from May 2026. The decision may raise concerns among administrators who value control over their environments. Hotpatching can provide significant benefits in terms of speed and efficiency, but also introduces risks if not done correctly. The change will not override existing policies, but devices meeting specific prerequisites will receive hotpatch updates automatically. Administrators can opt out at the tenant level or via a policy for a group of devices.
Microsoft has made a significant change to its patching strategy, one that is likely to be met with skepticism by administrators who value control over their environments. The company has announced that it will begin enabling hotpatching updates for all Windows devices automatically, starting from May 2026.
Hotpatching, a process used to install security patches without requiring a restart, can provide significant benefits in terms of speed and efficiency. However, the decision to make this feature the default is likely to raise concerns among those who prefer more control over their environments.
According to Microsoft, the company has "changed the game" with the launch of hotpatch updates. The process involves installing security updates without requiring a reboot, which means changes take effect immediately. This can be beneficial in terms of speed and efficiency, but it also introduces the risk of unintended consequences if not done correctly.
The decision to enable hotpatching by default from May 2026 is not without its caveats. Microsoft has stated that this change will not override existing policies, meaning update deferrals and ring settings still apply. However, on any device that meets the prerequisites (running Windows 11 24H2 or later, using an eligible license, and with the April 2026 security update installed), hotpatch updates will start rolling in automatically.
This move is likely to be met with skepticism by administrators who value control over their environments. Those who need more time before the change happens (less than two months isn't a lot of notice) or want to stick to the previous patching method can opt out at the tenant level or via a policy for a group of devices.
Microsoft's recommendation is, unsurprisingly, to leave hotpatch updates enabled. The company argues that "hotpatch updates are the quickest way to get secure." However, this move also raises concerns about the potential risks associated with hotpatching, particularly in terms of rollback and testing.
The decision to enable hotpatching by default from May 2026 is a significant change for Microsoft, one that will likely have far-reaching implications for administrators who rely on its patching strategy. While the benefits of hotpatching are clear, it is essential to carefully consider the potential risks and take steps to mitigate them.
In the coming weeks and months, administrators will need to weigh up the benefits of hotpatching against their concerns about control and flexibility. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft's decision to enable hotpatching by default from May 2026 will ultimately prove to be a success or a significant misstep.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Dark-Side-of-Hotpatching-Microsofts-Latest-Move-to-Speed-Up-Security-Updates-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2026/03/11/microsoft_hotpatching/
Published: Wed Mar 11 08:50:33 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
