Microsoft has decided to indefinitely postpone the removal of driver synchronization within Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), a move that comes in direct response to customer feedback. Senior Program Manager Paul Reed acknowledged the shift in strategy, noting the significant number of users already transitioning to cloud-based driver services. He emphasized the importance of user input, particularly concerning scenarios involving disconnected devices.
Customer-Centric Approach
In a recent update shared through the Microsoft message center, the company stated, “Based on your valuable feedback, we are postponing the plan to remove WSUS driver synchronization, which was slated for April 18, 2025. Stay tuned as we work on a revised timeline to streamline our services for you.” This announcement marks a notable change from previous communications, which had warned users about the impending deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization.
The timeline for the removal of this feature has been a topic of discussion since June 2024, when Microsoft first announced its intention to phase out WSUS driver synchronization. The company had been encouraging IT administrators to adopt newer cloud-based solutions, such as Windows Autopatch, Microsoft Intune, and Azure Update Manager, to ensure smooth client and server updates.
In January 2025, Microsoft reiterated its call for admins to prepare for the deprecation, emphasizing the benefits of transitioning to cloud-based alternatives. A subsequent reminder in September 2024 confirmed that while WSUS had been deprecated, the company would continue to support existing capabilities and publish updates through the channel.
WSUS, originally introduced nearly two decades ago as Software Update Services (SUS), has played a crucial role in helping IT administrators manage and distribute updates across extensive enterprise networks. By allowing updates to be managed from a single server, WSUS has alleviated the burden of individual endpoints needing to connect directly to Microsoft’s servers for updates.
In a related development, Microsoft also announced in June 2024 the deprecation of the Windows NTLM authentication protocol, urging developers to transition to more secure alternatives like Kerberos or Negotiation authentication to avoid potential future issues.
