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Windows Update for Business Reports Commercially Released
Microsoft on Tuesday announced the "general availability" commercial-release of Windows Update for Business Reports.
Windows Update for Business Reports is Microsoft's latest IT support tool that displays device and software-update compliance information for Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines. IT pros use the Azure Portal to view details regarding Microsoft's monthly quality update patches and operating system feature updates.
The Windows Update for Business Reports capability also has a device-status overview pane. Moreover, it'll show the bandwidth savings achieved from Microsoft's Delivery Optimization feature, which controls how software downloads get distributed across an organization.
While Windows Update for Business Reports uses Microsoft's Log Analytics service, there are apparently no extra charges to use it. Organizations just need an Azure subscription.
"The Azure Log Analytics ingestion and retention charges aren't incurred on your Azure subscription for Windows Update for Business reports data," Microsoft explained in this "Overview" document.
Update Compliance Replacement
Microsoft previously had named this capability the "Azure Workbooks for Update Compliance" feature back in August when it was at the preview stage. Last month, Microsoft explained its intent to rename it as Windows Update for Business Reports. It also hinted at that time that Windows Update for Business Reports would replace Microsoft's Update Compliance capability.
Tuesday's announcement confirmed that Windows Update for Business Reports will be replacing Update Compliance. It also offered specific deadlines for organizations that are using Update Compliance.
For instance, new users won't be able to download Update Compliance starting next month (Nov. 30).
Also, Microsoft will stop supporting Update Compliance on March 31, 2023 for existing users.
Existing Update Compliance users have a January enrollment deadline to make the shift to Windows Update for Business Reports, Microsoft's Tuesday announcement suggested.
"If you're an existing [Update Compliance] user, to continue to receive update data through our legacy Update Compliance solution, plan to enroll in Windows Update for Business reports by January 15, 2023," it stated.
Integration with Windows Update for Business Deployment Service
Windows Update for Business Reports is integrated with the Windows Update for Business Deployment Service, according to Microsoft's "Overview" document.
Microsoft first introduced the Windows Update for Business Deployment Service in March of last year, calling it an "enterprise-grade solution" that works with Microsoft's artificial-intelligence-based servicing platform.
Microsoft also has a Windows Update for Business option for updating PCs. It's presumably different from the Windows Update for Business Deployment Service.
Also back in March, Microsoft had indicated that use of the Windows Update for Business Deployment Service would require the use of Azure Active Directory and having certain other licensing in place:
For all enterprise customers, deployment service capabilities are available to Azure AD joined and Hybrid Azure AD joined devices that are covered by a Microsoft 365 or Windows 10 E3 user license. Intune support requires either a Microsoft 365 E3 license, or both Windows and EMS E3 licenses.
Windows Update for Business Reports To Add New Capabilities
Microsoft is planning to add new capabilities to Windows Update for Business Reports. It'll be getting new reports regarding the status of drivers and firmware at some point, Microsoft's Tuesday announcement suggested.
A discussion and demo of Windows Update for Business Reports can be found this Microsoft video.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.