Microsoft is embarking on an initiative to enhance the software updating experience for IT administrators and end-users alike. The company is developing a Windows-native update orchestration platform designed to streamline the process of managing updates across various applications and components within the Windows ecosystem.
The software update orchestration platform
According to Microsoft Product Manager Angie Chen, the current landscape of software updates can often feel disjointed. “Today, line-of-business apps, Windows components, Visual Studio, and other products are updated independently,” she explains. This fragmentation can lead to confusion for IT admins who are tasked with managing multiple applications that utilize their own update orchestrators alongside commercial management tools.
The forthcoming platform aims to create a more cohesive and user-friendly update experience. By reducing conflicting notifications and minimizing disruptions, it seeks to simplify the management of updates for IT administrators. Currently in private preview, Microsoft encourages developers and product teams to register for access.
“Apps or management tools that are part of the preview will be able to access the Windows Update orchestration platform through a set of Windows Runtime (WinRT) APIs and PowerShell commands,” Chen elaborates. To participate, developers must first register with the orchestrator as an update provider, supplying the path to an executable file that contains the logic for scanning new updates.
Once a new update is available, the orchestrator requires details such as the update title, version, installation deadline, and whether a restart is necessary to complete the installation. This information allows the orchestrator to effectively schedule the download and installation process.
Updates will be intelligently deferred based on various factors, including user activity, system performance, and connection to AC power. If user interaction is required, the orchestrator will notify them through native Windows Update notifications. In cases where a scan, download, or installation fails, the orchestrator will automatically reschedule the attempt.
Windows Backup for Organizations
As the deadline for Windows 10’s end of support on October 14, 2025, approaches, Microsoft is keen to facilitate the transition to Windows 11 for organizations. To this end, the company is introducing Windows Backup for Organizations, a feature designed to simplify the backup and restoration of settings for both Windows 10 and 11 devices.
“With Windows Backup for Organizations, get your users up and running as quickly as possible with their familiar Windows settings already in place. It doesn’t matter if they’re experiencing a device reimage or reset,” notes Microsoft Product Manager Miranda Leschke.
To leverage this backup functionality, devices must be either Microsoft Entra hybrid joined or Microsoft Entra joined, and they must be operating on a supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11. The restore feature will be compatible only with Microsoft Entra joined devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 and later. Additionally, organizations will need an active Microsoft Intune test tenant and appropriate service administrator permissions to utilize this feature.
The Windows Backup for Organizations feature is currently in a limited public preview, accessible exclusively to select members of the Microsoft Management Customer Connection Program.
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