What operating system after windows 10. Aggressive update policy. How Microsoft representatives themselves answer a pressing question

Windows 10 is a PC system produced by Microsoft. After version 8, the system immediately received the number 10. From July twenty-ninth, users had the opportunity to update their OS to Windows 10. The developer decided to make the best operating system out there. Correct the main disadvantages and shortcomings of previous operating systems, combining all their advantages and disadvantages.

Judging by the reviews, Windows 10 turned out to be not 100% good, nevertheless, more than one hundred and twenty million people have installed this system. In any case, since the number of users is constantly increasing, this OS will certainly be brought up to the stated level over time. And owners of other versions of Windows will want to upgrade to ten. The interface features of this operating system, in fact, are at the stage of study by users, however, its strengths and weaknesses have already been identified. Should you upgrade to Windows 10 today?

The OS is free, which is new for Microsoft owners. Owners of a licensed version of Windows 7 or 8, 8.1 will be able to install it on their PC for free.
- This version contains constant updates. Since the company decided that it would work constantly releasing updates. Therefore, there are no plans to release Windows 11. Updates are installed “without asking”.
- Multifaceted interface - in this version, the developers met the users halfway, taking into account opinions and recommendations. Thanks to this, the system turned out to be convenient for a wide range of users, because it combines a futuristic, intuitive, visual interface, as well as the familiar “Seven” desktop - there are “Start” buttons. The user, at his own discretion, creates a panel with tiles, adding those that interest him or, conversely, removing unnecessary ones from the menu.

- The manufacturer promised that this OS will be more productive than previous versions. Now the owner will be able to evaluate the performance and energy consumption of the battery, disable especially “gluttonous” programs to increase the speed of the processor.
- Windows 10 has become simpler and more comfortable to use. This system has introduced a lot of new things for convenient use of the system. Now it’s easy to switch between open applications, and the desktop will be able to comfortably place the windows of 4 programs at once, while the windows themselves will choose the most desired size.
- New browser on OS 10 - Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is also present. They did a great job on the new browser. We removed the old options and introduced many new features, including voice control.
- Cortana, known for its Windows smartphones, has become present here too. With its help, the user can easily cope with many questions that arise: it will inform you about the current weather forecast, play your favorite musical compositions, open the necessary application, or a file from your hard drive. The only inconvenience is that for now it only works in English.
- The security system has been improved, in addition to the usual password, there is fingerprint recognition, or retinal scanning, face recognition.
- It is possible to purchase programs, literary works, films and much more from the Windows Store. At the same time, on other devices you only need to enter your account information, since now all devices on the top ten are perfectly synchronized and become one.

Office has also become free.

Any innovation has its drawbacks, and this OS is not spared either.

The manufacturer will work steadily to update the OS without notifying the owner.
- Not everyone will get an operating system for free. If you are the owner of Vista, XP, then you will have to pay for it.
- You won’t find the usual Media Player in the top ten. Despite the fact that users are accustomed to using it, the manufacturer considered it necessary to exclude it, deciding that the player was losing its relevance.
- Often in everything new, unknown, and in Windows 10, when you start using it, errors may appear that will be isolated in the future. Therefore, many decided to wait a little and install it later.
- The Cortana assistant, as previously stated, although it has great potential, works only in English.
- In terms of security, not everything is clear. Not every user will be able to use it (a camera for scanning the retina or a fingerprint scanner is required).
- The good old “seven” and “eight” will function well until 2020 and 2023; the possibility of choice prevents the ten from becoming a leader.

The Windows 10 operating system is the latest build at the moment, created by Microsoft. We can say with confidence that the developers put maximum effort into creating the presented version and the result was an excellent product. There are practically no errors, bugs or glitches in it. What is attractive about the Windows 10 operating system? Why is it so rapidly gaining popularity among the vast majority of users?

After an unusual experience with the eighth build, the developers decided that it was necessary to return the Start menu to the interface, which most users loved so much. Interestingly, Windows 10 offers something in between the Windows 7 and 8 start menu, which had a regular start menu and a tiled list of popular programs. If someone doesn't like it, they can switch to another display option that will satisfy the user's needs.

Another advantage or innovation is a single graphical interface of the Windows 10 OS for all types of devices. Smartphone, tablet, computer, laptop, virtual reality glasses and even all-in-one PCs - on all devices, the system functions the same and looks exactly the same. This means that everywhere there will be the same, identical location of system settings and files. Users who quickly get used to one thing will really like this.

Windows 10 system requirements

If you decide to install a new version of the system, but have doubts about your computer, you can focus on the following parameters:

Processor with a clock frequency of 1 GHz or more;
RAM of 1 and 2 GB for x32 and x64 bit assemblies, respectively;
16 GB of free hard disk space;
Modern video card.

We hope that you liked our description of Windows OS in Russian and you decide to download and install this system on your computer.

With the advent of the tenth version of the Windows operating system, many users of previous systems faced a rather serious problem: whether to switch to a new OS or still work on an outdated one. Reviews of Windows 10 are divided. Some praise the system for its unprecedented performance, others hate it due to too many simultaneously running and unnecessary background processes and tracking user actions. So who is right?

Windows 10: reviews of the first version

Initially, the first modification of the Technical Preview became available for upgrading existing systems of the seventh and eighth modifications. Please note, precisely in the form of updating the existing OS without losing the functionality of all installed programs and devices. The Windows 10 update service was launched only with the user’s consent and provided that all the latest updates and service packs for the existing system were installed on the computer.

Its icon was constantly “hanging” in the system tray, offering a suggestion for queuing (at first, this was the only way to download the necessary distribution). True, Microsoft specialists left a loophole for all those users who did not want to wait their turn by posting the Media Creation Tool utility on the official website, with which they could immediately install a new system.

The Windows 10 update (upgrade) service in this case worked in such a way that the installer files were first downloaded, and then the installation was carried out. But! The most important thing was that all this, unlike previous systems, was done for free (but only for users of licensed versions of Windows 8 and 7).

In addition, another huge advantage is the ability to return to the previous system within thirty days, which has never happened before. But if the user did not intend (or does not intend) to roll back, the old system files and installation packages can be painlessly deleted. And this is about 30 GB. But the removal should be done using the built-in disk cleanup tool, and not manually.

System requirements

The first reviews of Windows 10 looked rather chaotic, although the vast majority of users who tried the system at work said that this OS does not have too high hardware requirements.

Indeed, for normal operation the system only needs a 2-core mid-range processor and 1 GB of RAM for a 32-bit OS and 2 GB for a 64-bit architecture. The paradox is that the “seven” with this configuration can work quite slowly, while Windows 10 (reviews confirm this) looks much faster.

Interface: what's new?

The main interface elements remain unchanged. True, if you look at the Windows 10 “Desktop” and “Taskbar”, you will notice that the developers have returned the start button, which they tried to get rid of in the eighth version of the system.

Actually, the Start menu itself has undergone quite a lot of changes, since, along with the classic look, it contains controls for the Metro interface, which the “ten” inherited from the eighth modification. Apparently, this was done to simplify work in tablet mode, which can be switched to through the notification section in the system tray. There are also quite a lot of additional functions that can be configured as desired (for example, quick duplication or screen projection).

The Windows 10 “desktop” has another interesting property that many simply do not know about - it can not only be expanded, but also made into several analogues with different widgets similar to how it looks on smartphones and tablets.

Finally, the emergence of the improved Cortana assistant, which can not only give advice, but also perform some custom actions to control the computer, was a real breakthrough. Apple's Siri or Windows 8.1's similar service don't compare. But without a foreign language interface, Russian-speaking users will not be able to activate it.

There are now two “control panels”: the standard one and the settings section. The usual one is not so easy to get to, although you can use the control command in the Run menu. The settings, although sometimes duplicated, are quite different in some respects (for example, deleting programs).

Performance comparison between Windows 7 and Windows 10

As for performance, no matter what anyone says, the “ten” is still head and shoulders above the “seven”. Not to mention specialized tests, which will not tell the average user anything in terms of performance, but as an indicator we can cite reviews of loading both OSes on the same configuration.

Windows 7, with all startup services disabled, starts in about a minute to a minute and a half. But Windows 10 under the same conditions boots in up to 30 seconds. Some, however, claim that startup on a Core i5 3.4 GHz processor with 8 GB of RAM takes 5 and 6 seconds, respectively. Absolute nonsense! A Dell laptop with 8 GB of RAM and a 2-core, 2-thread second-generation Core i7 processor has exactly the parameters indicated above (tested). But everyone recognizes that Windows 10 comes out of sleep and hibernation mode much faster.

The launch of programs remained unchanged. But the “ten” “thinks” a little longer when starting an executable file as an administrator. This is understandable, because there are built-in protection tools, in addition to already well-known services like the firewall and TrustedInstaller, the built-in antivirus also works here. And the rights of the so-called super administrator are significantly expanded.

Licensing issues

If we talk about how to find out if Windows 10 is licensed, first you need to decide on the system installation method. If you used the MCT utility described above, you can rest assured that the distribution was downloaded from the official Microsoft website.

On the other hand, you can decide on the license and activation of the system quite simply by using the usual RMB menu (right mouse button) on the computer icon (which, by the way, is not on the “Desktop”, but is located exclusively in “Explorer”).

If the system is not activated, a corresponding notification will appear on the screen after a while, and most system functions will be blocked. How to get out of this situation? Elementary (albeit illegal)! You must use the portable utility KMSAuto Net, which is capable of activating any of the known Windows systems, and agree to create a task in the Task Scheduler, after which the “reactivation” will be performed in the background without user intervention.

Update

Initially, Microsoft stated that Windows 10 was so flawless that it would not require updates, and there were no plans to release them at all. As is already clear, all this turned out to be a huge fake, since under the influence of even the most primitive viruses the system began to crash. In general, frankly speaking, the security system is not the strongest point of Microsoft operating systems.

Nevertheless, updates are released constantly and do not have the “jambs” that appeared when installing some packages in Windows 7 (to restore the system’s functionality, some had to be not only removed, but also isolated so that they would not be installed in the future). And if you take into account special updates like the Anniversary Update or Creators Update (for Windows 10), they can be compared to the service packs that were once released for versions XP and 7.

What is provided for people with disabilities?

Now a few words about what Windows 10 offers for people with disabilities. If earlier there were tools like a screen magnifier, now there are many more of them (and even in stationary versions).

In order for people with disabilities to use Windows 10, they simply need to update the system using a special version of the Anniversary Update package. Here you can convert text into voice pronunciation (Text-to-Speech), and assigned keyboard shortcuts to perform a particular operation, and add a variety of recognized languages, and scan (determine) interests in website navigation mode, and six levels recognition of multi-word combinations, and the presence of a so-called voice narrator (Narrator), and much, much more.

Drivers and programs

As for drivers and programs, initially no one released anything specifically for Windows 10, since after the upgrade everything worked fine. But over time, some software developers began to focus exclusively on the tenth version, taking into account all its capabilities.

For example, games and applications related to multimedia began to require the DirectX 12 platform in the system, which is simply impossible to install on the “seven” (not to mention XP). Some programs and drivers that were newly installed into the system may not have worked, but now there is no such problem.

Software

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to single out the best programs for Windows 10. It all depends on what exactly each user prefers. Nevertheless, we can say with confidence that the tenth version is largely focused on games (for this there is even a means of recording their progress in real time and support for game consoles) and processing multimedia content. But overall, the new operating system, despite the tracking, deserves all sorts of praise. Well, as for those users who complain about tracking their actions, we can only say one thing: “It’s their own fault.” All these options could be disabled at the installation stage, although this can be done in a running system. True, you will have to spend a lot of time.

When creating Windows 10, Microsoft took the wishes and advice of users very seriously. To do this, the Windows Insider Program was used, where each participant could leave feedback and take part in the process of improving the functions and capabilities of the new operating system.

Windows 10 – the final version from Microsoft

The appearance of the tenth version of Windows in 2015 became one of the most exciting events in the IT field in recent times. Windows 10 is an operating system for computers and other gadgets, developed, naturally, by Microsoft.

The new Windows series was awaited with great desire, since the previous version of Windows 8 pleased few people with its functionality and interface, and a number of users even ranked it among the worst Microsoft operating systems. As you can understand from what has already been said, the release of Windows 10 surpassed number nine. The manufacturer explained this decision by the fact that many programs would recognize it as a system from the Windows 9x generation, which were popular in the 90s of the last century. The first test version of Windows 10 was released on September 30, 2014 and was intended only for corporate clients. The next day, the trial build became available to everyone to download. Within 24 hours of its release, 14 million people installed it.

When creating Windows 10, Microsoft took the wishes and advice of users very seriously. To do this, the Windows Insider Program was used, where each participant could leave feedback and take part in the process of improving the functions and capabilities of the new operating system.

Windows 10 differs from previous versions in that it is officially distributed not only from the manufacturer’s Internet resources, but also from the computers of the users themselves. This is possible using the network protocol for cooperative file sharing - BitTorrent, the principle of which will help to constantly update Windows 10. Since July 29, 2015, owners of official Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices have been able to update the system to Windows 10. Due to the deadline, such a transition is possible for free during the first year.

Windows 10 - what's new and did users like the innovations?
Microsoft, represented by Windows 10, has released a single operating system for many devices: desktop PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones, game consoles. It also uses the familiar Metro interface, but with a number of changes.

One of the main things is that the familiar “Start” button has returned, the operation of which is now reminiscent of the “seven” with its classic interface and at the same time retains the functionality of Metro. However, if the user does not like this, then you can switch to working with the Start button, similar to Windows 8. In the latest builds of Windows 10 (from 10056), you can use the mouse cursor to resize the Start menu, almost expanding it to its entirety screen. Let's just say it's quite convenient.

Another innovation in Windows 10 is virtual desktops, which can be created in large quantities. This should increase the speed of working with “heavy” programs - by opening them on different desktops, you can switch between them. Is this feature new in the modern world? Probably not. In Apple OS X, for example, it has been used for several years, and in Linux even longer. True, it is impossible to set different wallpapers for desktops in order to better recognize them. This fact caused a lot of negative feedback.

The Snap function has been improved in Windows 10, allowing you to keep 4 applications open at once and notify which other applications are running, how to place them, etc. It looks like this: when you move one application to the side, up or down, thumbnails of other programs are visible in the free part of the display.

Changes in Windows 10 also affected the command line, through which you can perform almost any action on the system. In the new version from Microsoft, standard text processing capabilities (select, copy, paste, etc.), a transparency option, new fonts and control hotkeys have been added to the command line. An advanced user would like such additions.

On the positive side, they appreciated the versatility of Windows 10, which will replace other mobile operating systems (Windows Phone, Windows RT), “making friends” with all your devices. All your files, saves, documents and other content are stored in the cloud and will always be accessible from both your computer and your phone. At the same time, Microsoft took into account past mistakes, and the interfaces differ on different types of devices (laptop - classic desktop, tablets - “tiled”, etc.). All this makes management convenient, depending on the gadget and its features.

The new Wi-Fi Sense system has received mixed reviews. It simply shares your Wi-Fi password with all your friends and acquaintances. How exactly does she recognize who your close friend is? Simply takes into account all contacts from Facebook, Outlook, Skype and similar programs. That is, if a person is your friend, then he does not need to enter a password - the smartphone will automatically connect to your network. The idea itself is great, but often the list of contacts on social networks and chats includes people we don’t know in real life. What to do in such a situation? I think we shouldn’t add everyone as friends indiscriminately.

Windows 10 (Home version) does not ask its owner about the need to download updates - the system will download them anyway. Therefore, for people with limited Internet traffic, it's time to switch to unlimited tariffs from their providers.

Unconditional plus
The main success of Windows 10 is its support, which works great with multi-core processors. The new operating system allows each processor core to integrate with the video card and perform different tasks. According to reviews from many users, performance in games with DirectX 12 has increased several times. The secret lies in the fact that DirectX 12 works not only with the main graphics card, but also with the one built into the motherboard. Real gamers and fans of modern games at high graphics settings liked this innovation.
A major advantage of Windows 10 is its performance, as numerous bugs have been eliminated, memory management has been improved, and the system boots on average 30% faster compared to Windows 7 on the same device.

Why is the new Windows 10 being criticized?
After literally the first days of using the system, tens of thousands of people subjected Windows 10 to severe criticism. The main reason was said to be spying on its users. The fact is that Microsoft collects, stores and transmits web surfing history, website passwords, location data, running programs, emails and similar applications, contacts with whom virtual communication occurs. This list can be continued for a long time, but let’s say one thing - just a huge amount of information is sent to Microsoft servers, and most of it is really of a personal nature and is of little use to the manufacturer for optimizing the system. Let’s add to this the likelihood that your account on the cloud will be hacked and all the information will be transferred to the attacker.

Negative reviews regarding Windows 10 consisted of its “dampness” and lack of development. Many users often had problems with the operation of important programs and drivers. For example, when setting the region, the operating system could get confused and select the default settings for the USA with its time and date. Another unpleasant thing often appeared: after exiting the “sleep” mode, the display brightness went to the minimum level, and the brightness slider did not respond to mouse movement. Rebooting the system helped cure this error. Therefore, early versions of the “ten” are more suitable for those who are not afraid of bugs and errors, who like to sit at the computer and tinker with the settings, registry and other internals for hours or days. Those who simply need a computer for work or study only approached installing Windows 10 after several release updates.

Let's summarize and talk about prospects
Windows 10 has changed a lot compared to its predecessors. Now it is a personalized operating system that studies its user, his habits, interests, requests, and the time he spends in certain applications. The “Ten” will be improved, modified, changed, introduced and, possibly, removed some functions. But now Windows 10 is a high-quality platform, and by optimizing it for yourself and your work, you can achieve a lot.

In response to the question of will there be Windows 11, 12 and beyond? Representatives from Microsoft said that the “ten” is the last system that will be regularly updated. The company does not yet know what the new line will be called, which will replace Windows, but you should not wait for version 11.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Windows 10 servicing model (Windows-as-a-Service), formerly known as Windows Branching. This topic has caused a lot of confusion since the introduction of Windows as a Service.

In this article we will try to clarify and talk in detail about the updated Windows 10 service model and operating system release schedules.

Cumulative and feature updates for Windows 10

System administrators and IT professionals should become familiar with the Windows 10 maintenance schedule. However, before moving on to an overview of the current release schedule for new versions of the system, there are a few important terms to understand.

First of all, you need to clearly understand the difference between feature updates (Feature Upgrades) and cumulative updates (Quality Updates).

Feature Upgrades. As the name suggests, feature updates bring the latest features, components, and enhancements to Windows 10 devices. Microsoft releases two feature updates per year, in March and September. Because feature updates contain a complete copy of the operating system, they can be used to install the latest version of Windows 10 on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computers, as well as on new bare-metal devices.

Cumulative updates (Quality Updates). Cumulative updates are similar to the monthly security updates and patches that were used before Windows 10, but have a number of significant differences. Firstly, cumulative updates are intended for a specific version of Windows 10. Secondly, Microsoft plans to release as many cumulative updates as needed for supported versions of Windows 10. These updates are aimed at improving the quality of the OS.

Windows 10 Service Types

When Microsoft first introduced the servicing branch model (Windows 10 Branching Model), businesses could choose from four available branches. They differed in the availability of functional updates and the length of the support period:

Windows Insider Program (This program is primarily intended for consumers and system administrators who want to test the latest features and improvements before they become generally available).
Current Branch - the availability of a new version of Windows 10 immediately after the public release.
The Current Branch For Business (CBB), a version of Windows 10 prepared for enterprises, becomes available approximately 4 months after the public release.
Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) - a branch with long-term technical support, designed for ATMs, production equipment and other critical specialized devices that do not require regular updates.

The updated Windows 10 servicing model was introduced in the spring of 2017. Currently, organizations can choose from three servicing options. Choose the option that best suits your requirements:

Windows Insider Program- Most large enterprises maintain a small staff of specialists who test preview versions of future updates to improve adoption and deployment and eliminate potential compatibility issues.
Semi-Annual Channel (SAC)- replaces the concepts “Current Branch” (CB) and “Current Branch for Business” (CBB). IT teams across organizations can now use the semi-annual channel in System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) for piloting and testing. The enterprise then decides when to move to a broader deployment.
Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC)- formerly known as the long-term service branch (LTSB). Suitable for organizations that are deploying Windows 10 for a long period of time and want to limit non-essential changes. Customers will receive regular security updates for as long as they use Windows 10—up to 10 years. This option is ideal for ATMs, manufacturing equipment and other mission critical applications.

In Microsoft articles, you may also see the terms “Semi-Annual Channel (Pilot)” and “Semi-Annual Channel (Wide)”. They correspond to “Current Branch” and “Current Branch for Business”. Now the terms Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) and Semi-Annual Channel are used instead.

It is important to highlight one point that may cause confusion. After the initial release is published, enterprise-ready updates will not be released. For example, 4 months after the Fall Creators Update was released on October 17, 2017, the semi-annual Fall Creators Update channel will not be released. The initial update is the final update.

This section will focus on the Semi-Annual Channel service type for Windows 10 Enterprise and Education, because the long-term service channel does not receive functional updates, and Windows 10 Insider Preview versions precede public releases.

Schedule updated September 13, 2018.

As you can see in the graph above, Microsoft published the first release of Windows 10 for Current Branch in July 2015. Version “1507” indicates the release date in year/month (YYMM) format. With this version, Microsoft deviated a little from the plan. Windows 10 version 1507 was originally scheduled to end support on March 26, 2017, but the date was subsequently pushed back to May 9, 2017. Only the LTSC channel continues to receive updates at this time.

In November 2015, Microsoft released the first feature update (version 1511 or the so-called November Update) for Current Branch. This version became available for Current Branch for Business in March 2016.
On August 2, 2016, Microsoft released the Anniversary Update (version 1607), which was widely deployed to organizations.
On April 11, 2017, Windows 10 Creators Update (version 1703) became available for the Current Branch. On July 27, 2017, Microsoft released this update for the Current Branch for Business, and therefore it is considered ready for organizations.
The Fall Creators Update (version 1709) was originally scheduled for September, but released on October 17, 2017.
Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803) - originally Spring Creators Update - was scheduled for release on March 14, 2018, but was delayed until April 30, 2018 due to reported issues.
The next update, Windows 10 October 2018 Update (version 1809, codenamed Redstone 5) was initially released on October 2, 2018, but was then withdrawn once significant bugs were discovered that caused data loss. The final version of version 1809 was re-released on November 13, 2018.

Let us indicate the most important release and support dates for versions:

Windows 10 Initial Release 1507 RTM (OS Build: 10240.17236)

Release date for Current Branch: 07/29/2015
End of support for Current Branch: 05/09/2017 (official confirmation from Microsoft dated April 13, 2017)
Not available for semi-annual channel

Release date for Current Branch: 11/10/2015
Release date for Current Branch for Business: 04/08/2016
End of support: 04/10/2018 (Microsoft)

Release date for Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted): March-April 2019
End of support: September-October 2020 (earlier than two releases before)

* expected in line with extended support for Windows 10 announced by Microsoft on September 6, 2018.

Note: Sometimes it can be difficult to find out the system version number. To quickly find out the version number of Windows 10, type winver into the search bar, press Enter, and you will see a dialog box with information about the current OS version.

When will support end for my version of Windows 10?

Microsoft initially announced that it would support two versions of Current Branch for Business (for example, 1511 and 1607) simultaneously. This means that once the N+2 version is published to Current Branch for Business, the 60-day countdown will begin until the end of life of the N version.

For example, if you are using version 1511 of Current Branch for Business, then you will have 10 months from the launch of version 1703 for Current Branch (April 2017), i.e. you will be able to do this until January 2018. In extreme cases, organizations will be able to use the same version for a maximum of 16 months, and a constant update cycle will ensure that security measures are maintained.

However, in reality, exact deadlines may not be observed. Following this policy, support for version 1507 was supposed to end in January 2017, but it was extended until May 9.

New simplified release schedule

On April 20, 2017, Microsoft announced that Windows 10 functional updates would be released twice a year, synchronously with Office 365 ProPlus and Microsoft SCCM updates - in September and March. The duration of the support period will be 18 months.

However, in November 2017, Michael Niehaus, former director of product marketing at Microsoft, announced that the software giant would give businesses and schools currently running Windows 10 version 1511 an additional six months to fix “critical ” and “important” security vulnerabilities. And in February 2018, Microsoft announced that it would also provide a 6-month end of support (EoL) extension for Windows 10 versions 1607, 1703, and 1709.

Much of the initially simplified support periods have been revised to a new support model: Starting September 6, 2018, Microsoft extended the support window for all currently supported Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions (versions 1607, 1703, 1709, and 1803) to 30 months. Additionally, starting with 1809, all fall updates will also receive extended support to 30 months, while all spring updates will only receive 18 months.

Skip updates

To make it easier to deploy cumulative security and feature updates, they are delivered in a cumulative form, i.e. include all previous improvements as well as new changes. This means that after installing the new version, your device will receive the most current version of the operating system.

If you're wondering whether you should install all the updates or whether you should skip some of them, remember that you can safely skip one or two feature updates. It's made even easier with Microsoft's new expanded support.

However, since new versions are available for a limited period of time, it is very important to install all patches and features on time. It is important to consider the end of support date for a specific version to ensure that your systems remain as secure as possible.

Conclusion

It is now clear that the sheer variety of management options and the forced nature of updates is forcing IT departments to quickly adapt to the new update culture that is part of Windows as a Service.

As older versions of Windows 10 approach end-of-life each month, organizations must prepare for the latest feature updates. In the future, this may lead to the depreciation of older system functions that may be used in some mission-critical applications in the enterprise.

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