Recently, Microsoft officially changed how they would be delivering updates to certain parts of Windows 10 and Windows Server that receive and install Windows Update files. This new method of bundled Windows updates is said to eliminate confusion and totally streamline the OS’s regular refreshes.

Before this change, Microsoft released all servicing stack updates (SSUs) on their own, apart from any of the cumulative updates (CUs). This new rollout process now combines the two types of updates into one package for IT administrators and Windows users alike to download and deploy into their systems.

For those who aren’t exactly sure what SSUs are, they are updates to the components – otherwise known as the servicing stack – that actually installs Windows Updates. They also contain the component based servicing stack (CBS) that are used in several areas of Windows Deployment and self-healing components (DISM, SFC, Adding/Removing roles, etc). They are a necessary and vital part of Windows servicing and maintenance as they improve the reliability of the update process to mitigate any potential issues while installing the quality and feature updates.

Unfortunately, because SSUs were being rolled out separately from CUs, with some CUs requiring specific SSUs to already be downloaded and installed first, this sometimes caused the CU to fail the install creating confusion within the update system.

According to Aria Carley (a microsoft program manager) in a company blog post, individuals running Windows 10 2004 who have installed September 2020’s SSU will see “a single cumulative monthly update” in the future. The bundled package will include, “the month’s cumulative fixes and the appropriate servicing stack updates for that month, if applicable.”

What Does This Mean For WSUS Users?
As of December 2020, a single CU inclusive of the SSU is available for WSUS for systems that now support the single CU/SSU (Windows 10 2004 and above). There’s nothing you need to do if you are running 2004 or above as the Windows Update Agent will handle it within the single CU making it very easy for admins.

You can always depend on our WSUS Automated Maintenance (WAM) software to automatically keep your server clear of declined, obsolete, and unused Windows updates and drivers.

With WAM, you can automatically and effortlessly update clients and servers.

Save yourself from ongoing WSUS stress and WAM your server!

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