IT infrastructure

Winsage
April 23, 2026
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has approved a £2 billion class action against Microsoft, aimed at compensating approximately 59,000 businesses using the Windows Server operating system in non-Microsoft public clouds. The collective action, led by Maria Luisa Stasi, alleges that Microsoft has overcharged UK entities for Windows Server on competing cloud services. The tribunal dismissed Microsoft's objections and granted a Collective Proceedings Order on an opt-out basis. The class action addresses two main issues: pricing abuse related to the Microsoft Service Provider License Agreement (SPLA) and re-licensing abuse concerning the deployment of Windows Server on Azure versus other cloud providers. The UK Competition and Markets Authority is also investigating Microsoft's software licensing practices within the cloud market. James Hain-Cole from law firm Scott+Scott expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's decision, emphasizing its significance for securing compensation for affected businesses.
Winsage
April 22, 2026
Windows 365 Link, a service launched a year ago, enhances the Windows 365 experience by providing a cloud-based Windows environment that is easy to manage, secure, and cost-effective. It allows organizations to scale Cloud PCs without local data or applications. Over the past year, it has expanded into new regions and industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and professional services. Organizations using Windows 365 Link have reported benefits like reduced management burdens and seamless access for workers. The partner network has grown to over 200 resellers in 20 countries, facilitating quick deployment. Upcoming updates include support for Bluetooth device pairing, tenant branding, USB redirection, and visibility into pending updates on sign-in screens.
Winsage
April 22, 2026
Support for Windows Server 2016 will officially end on January 12, 2027, ceasing security updates and bug fixes. Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows Server 2019 or later to maintain support and security. Businesses are advised to assess their IT infrastructure and develop a migration strategy to ensure continuity and security. Engaging with IT professionals is recommended for managing the transition effectively.
Winsage
April 17, 2026
Microsoft has acknowledged that the April 2026 security update for Windows Server, patch KB5082063, has caused significant disruptions for some enterprise domain controllers, leading to continuous reboot cycles in non-Global Catalog domain controllers used in Privileged Access Management (PAM) deployments. This has resulted in the unavailability of Active Directory authentication and directory services on affected servers. Additionally, the installation of KB5082063 may fail on some Windows Server 2025 systems. This issue marks the third consecutive year that April security updates have caused problems for Windows Server domain controllers. In previous years, Microsoft issued emergency fixes for similar issues, including crashes and complications with NTLM authentication. Administrators currently have limited options, including delaying the update, isolating a test domain controller, or engaging with Microsoft Support for tailored mitigation steps.
Winsage
January 16, 2026
Microsoft has officially ceased all support for Windows Server 2008 as of January 13, 2026, including paid extended security updates. This end-of-life scenario poses significant security risks for organizations still using the outdated operating system, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. The transition away from Windows Server 2008 requires careful planning, as many organizations face challenges in migrating legacy applications to modern systems. The lack of ongoing patches means that any new vulnerabilities will remain unaddressed, potentially leading to data breaches and compliance failures, particularly in regulated sectors like healthcare and finance. Microsoft has encouraged migration to Azure, offering incentives for early adopters, but the transition can be complex and costly. The end of support also affects global supply chains and compatibility with newer software applications. Organizations are advised to conduct audits of their software portfolios and consider hybrid environments to enhance flexibility and security.
Winsage
December 24, 2025
Galen Hunt, a Distinguished Engineer at Microsoft, has proposed to eliminate all C and C++ code within the company, focusing on transitioning to Rust. This initiative aims to address technical debt and improve memory safety, as C and C++ are responsible for approximately 70% of vulnerabilities in Microsoft products. Microsoft plans to leverage AI and modern tooling to facilitate this transition, which includes rewriting portions of the Windows kernel in Rust. Hunt is seeking a Principal Software Engineer with Rust expertise to support this effort. The adoption of Rust is growing globally, with a reported 2.3 million developers using it, and major tech companies are increasingly integrating it into their infrastructure.
AppWizard
December 18, 2025
The AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D is expected to have a price point higher than its predecessor, the 9800X3D, with leaks suggesting a price of .09, which is a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Recent leaks concerning the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D price have stirred the pot among tech enthusiasts, revealing a price point that exceeds that of its predecessor, the 9800X3D. While the increase may not be drastic, it does dampen expectations for those hoping for a more affordable entry into AMD's latest offerings. Price Insights and Comparisons The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has established itself as the premier gaming CPU, thanks to its advanced Zen 5 architecture, eight-core design, and the innovative 3D V-Cache technology that significantly enhances gaming performance. The upcoming 9850X3D is anticipated to maintain these core features while offering a modest boost in clock speed, which is expected to yield slight improvements in gaming performance. However, the latest leaks suggest that consumers will need to pay an additional for this incremental upgrade. Two primary sources have emerged for these price leaks, both linked to the well-known tech leaker @momo_us on X. The first comes from SHI, a US-based IT infrastructure company, while the second is a Swiss retailer named Orderflow. According to Orderflow, the price in USD is projected to be 3.09, marking a .09 increase over the 9800X3D's launch MSRP of 9. The other source indicates a price of 473.55 Swiss francs, translating to an even steeper 6.34 USD. This price increase represents approximately a 15% rise based on the MSRP, which is significantly higher than the anticipated 5% improvement in clock speed associated with the new chip. Previous leaks suggest that the 9850X3D will achieve a peak clock speed of 5.6GHz, a step up from the 5.2GHz of its predecessor. For context, the AMD 9950X boasts a higher peak clock speed of 5.7GHz and features double the cores at 16. However, it lacks the additional 3D V-Cache chip that characterizes the X3D models, resulting in noticeably slower gaming performance compared to the 9800X3D. AMD is aware that a segment of gamers is willing to invest in the highest frame rates, making the 9850X3D an appealing option for this demographic. Despite the intriguing pricing leaks, it is essential to approach this information with caution. AMD has yet to provide any official confirmation, and there is a possibility that the prices mentioned are merely placeholders, not indicative of actual market values. Therefore, it may be wise to temper expectations for a sub-0 price tag. On a brighter note, the current pricing for the 9800X3D remains relatively stable, available for 5 in the US and £398.90 in the UK. While still a premium product, it stands out as one upgrade that has not been significantly impacted by the ongoing DRAM price fluctuations affecting other sectors of the industry." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].09 increase over the 9800X3D's launch MSRP of 9. This represents approximately a 15% rise based on the MSRP. The 9850X3D is anticipated to maintain the core features of the 9800X3D while offering a modest boost in clock speed to 5.6GHz, compared to the 5.2GHz of the 9800X3D. The current price for the 9800X3D is stable at 9 in the US and £398.90 in the UK.
Winsage
December 2, 2025
The UK's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that it upgraded its laptops from Windows 10 to Windows 11 as part of a £312 million investment to replace 31,500 outdated Windows 7 devices. The upgrade to Windows 11 was completed by March 2025, ahead of the Windows 10 support deadline on October 14, 2025. Defra acknowledged a factual inaccuracy in its previous communications regarding the IT modernization efforts.
Winsage
November 11, 2025
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has allocated £312 million to upgrade its IT systems to Windows 10, just months before Microsoft ends support for the operating system on October 14, 2025. Defra faces challenges in migrating thousands of devices, with 24,000 outdated machines incompatible with newer systems. A survey indicates that 90% of UK finance firms also struggle with outdated IT infrastructure, increasing cybersecurity risks. The National Cyber Security Centre has warned organizations to prepare for migrations to Windows 11. Defra's £312 million expenditure includes software licenses, consulting fees, and hardware refreshes, but additional risks such as increased downtime and regulatory fines could lead to significant consequences. The department's outdated devices do not meet Windows 11’s TPM 2.0 requirements, complicating the upgrade process. Experts advocate for an upgrade to Windows 11, but extensive compatibility testing and user training are necessary. Government oversight bodies are scrutinizing Defra’s expenditures, and discussions suggest alternatives like Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC, which offers updates until 2032. The financial implications of Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates pricing add strain, as costs double in subsequent years. The urgency for upgrades is emphasized by the potential cybersecurity risks, with experts warning of vulnerabilities affecting national food security and environmental initiatives.
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