Evaluate scenarios for using Windows Update for Business

  • 3 minutes

Windows Update for Business is not a product so much as a way of providing control over updates in a business setting. As such, you can optionally integrate the Windows Update for Business approach in a number of different scenarios using a variety of existing management technologies, including Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). The following three examples describe different scenarios for configuring Windows Update for Business.

Defer Windows Update updates with other update content hosted on WSUS

In this scenario, the following objectives apply:

  • Device is configured to defer Windows Quality Updates with Windows Update for Business.
  • Device is managed by WSUS.
  • Device is not configured to enable Microsoft Update.
  • Office and other software apps are on WSUS.
  • Third party drivers are on WSUS.

Diagram of a cloud containing a server and a globe represent the Microsoft Update service, and a WSUS server used to update other products.

Exclude drivers from Windows Quality Updates using Windows Update for Business

In this scenario, the following objectives apply:

  • Device is configured to defer Windows Quality Updates and to exclude drivers from Windows Update Quality Updates.
  • Device is configured to be managed by WSUS.
  • Windows Update drivers are available on WSUS.

Diagram of a cloud containing a server and a globe represent the Microsoft Update service, and a WSUS server used to update drivers.

Example - Device configured to receive Microsoft updates

In this scenario, the following objectives apply:

  • Device is configured to defer Quality Updates using Windows Update for Business.
  • Device is managed by WSUS.
  • Device is configured to receive updates for other Microsoft products at the same time as updates to Windows.
  • Microsoft Update, third-party, and locally published update content is available on the WSUS server.

Diagram of a cloud containing a server and a globe represent the Microsoft Update service, and a WSUS server used to update third party apps and drivers.