Windows 11 Enterprise enhancements are here - and the AI enhanced Windows Autopatch is a gamechanger

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By Benedict Collins
published

Windows Autopatch is now the single point for enterprise system updates

Windows 11 logo on a blue, folded backdrop
(Image credit: Microsoft)

The latest Windows 11 updates are here, and it's big news for enterprise customers worrying about dealing with countless confusing patch updates.

Microsoft has introduced a new unified update solution by combining Windows Update for Business with Autopatch, and unsurprisingly, has also thrown in some AI for good measure.

This single service provides full organization maintenance across multiple Microsoft products, increasing enterprise security and minimizing fragmented updates.

Less hassle, more control

Windows Autopatch will allow businesses to roll out updates to Windows PCs, Microsoft 365 applications, Edge, and Teams through one unified solution, with an AI update programming capability that will significantly reduce the hassle and impact on business productivity.

Earlier in February 2023, an Autopatch update introduced the importing of Intune Update rings from Windows 10 and later into Autopatch Manager, automatically registering devices without impacting update schedules or the need to redeploy existing update rings.

Microsoft is also introducing passwordless authentication to your Cloud PC with a new dedicated mode on Windows 365 Boot. There are also additional enhancements to Windows 365 Switch which means you can jump on to your Cloud PC from the Windows 11 Task view, and easily see if you are on your cloud or local PC with a desktop indicator.

The March 2024 update will make these updates available as an optional non-security preview release for all editions of 23H2 and 22H2 versions of Windows 11.

To make the most of these enhancements, navigate to Settings, Windows Update, and then turn on “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.”

Microsoft is also introducing AI to its Azure platform to help reduce the number and impact of spam and scam calls on customers. The Operator Call Protection will use AI to analyze the spoken content of phone calls to determine if the call is potentially malicious, and then provide a warning to the operator.

The tech giant has come under fire from regulators and competitors in recent weeks over it's alleged uncompetitive business practices, which include its partnership with OpenAI, it's investment in smaller tech firms, and restricting its customers from using competitors security platforms.

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Benedict Collins
Benedict Collins
Staff Writer (Security)

Benedict Collins is a Staff Writer at TechRadar Pro covering privacy and security. Benedict is mainly focused on security issues such as phishing, malware, and cyber criminal activity, but also likes to draw on his knowledge of geopolitics and international relations to understand the motivations and consequences of state-sponsored cyber attacks. Benedict has a MA in Security, Intelligence and Diplomacy, alongside a BA in Politics with Journalism, both from the University of Buckingham.