Blog Detail

New in Windows update and device management

• [AUTOPATCH] Check out two new reports in Windows Autopatch for Windows quality and feature updates. These reports are now expanded to all devices assigned to an Autopatch policy, not only members of an Autopatch group. Access these reports even if you don’t have a global administrator to activate Windows Autopatch features.
• [AUTOPATCH] Learn more about the integration of Windows Autopatch with Windows Update for Business deployment service. Roll out updates quickly, troubleshoot issues effectively, and enhance compliance and security with reduced need for manual intervention.
• [HOTPATCH] Learn more about deploying Windows updates faster with fewer restarts by watching our recent Ask Microsoft Anything (AMA) on hotpatching for Windows client and server. Get tips on enabling hotpatch updates and integrating them as part of your overall update management strategy.
• [INTUNE] Create policies in Microsoft Intune to collect detailed hardware information from Windows devices. From the Microsoft Intune admin center, go to Devices > Configuration > Policies. From there, create a Properties catalog (preview) profile policy to define what data to collect. Then you can monitor inventory data within 24 hours of any change and query it with Advanced Analytics using Kusto Query Language.
• [W365] Need to move your Windows 365 Cloud PCs from one region or Azure network connection (ANC) to another? Do so more easily in Microsoft Intune. Use smaller batches, track the progress status at a batch level, and try it on Windows 365 Frontline.
• [CLOUD] Check out a summary of new user experiences for Windows in the cloud. They include Windows App, Windows 365 Link, Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop support for High Efficiency Video Coding (HVEC), support for symmetric NAT with Relayed RDP Shortpath, and Microsoft OneDrive support for Azure Virtual Desktop RemoteApp. For teleconferencing, try a new Teams plugin model, SlimCore, and optimize audio calls with call redirection.
• [CLIPBOARD] Use Microsoft Intune or Group Policy to configure unidirectional clipboard for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365. You can restrict the flow of data to a single direction and specify and configure the types of data that can be copied.
• [INTUNE] A lot has changed with Microsoft Intune in 2024 to help you plan and prepare for the future. Review the latest in cloud-native management for Windows, the integration of Intune Suite and AI, strategies for achieving security and operational excellence, and future innovations to consider with Copilot.

New in Windows security

• [RESILIENCY] Watch last week’s AMA on Windows security, chip to cloud for a conversation on identity protection, application safeguards, device health, access control, as well as hardening and recovery tools.
• [PDE] Try Personal Data Encryption for known folders on Windows 11, version 24H2 Enterprise and Education editions. Help protect sensitive files saved in the Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders with Windows Hello authentication. For your eligible devices, go to the Microsoft Intune portal > Endpoint Security > Disk encryption > Create policy. For the Windows platform, select the Personal Data Encryption profile to create it. Enable it in Configuration settings.
• [TPM] Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 has always been and still is one of the hardware and system requirements for Windows 11. To check the status of your devices in the Microsoft Intune admin center, navigate to Devices > All devices. Select a device from the list, and in device Properties, navigate to Hardware > Security to find TPM information. Find further recommendations and steps toward TPM 2.0 and Windows 11 if you’re not there yet.
• [COMPLIANCE] Try new Microsoft Purview features to help protect and govern your data in the era of AI, first announced at Microsoft Ignite. Learn more about AI-enhanced features to prevent data loss, protect performance, and manage risks. Get visibility across data, users, and activities through centralized Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management (DSPM).

New in Copilot+ PCs and AI

Check out the freshly published Microsoft research on the new future of work that highlights productivity gains due to AI in 2024.

• [AMA] Catch up on the conversation about the future of AI with Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs. What are the AI-powered enhancements in Windows? What are the differences in experiences for home users and managed devices? What IT controls are available? Watch our experts answer these and other community questions.
• [AZURE] Using Azure and looking to adapt your virtual machine (VM) sizes to your workload needs? Use Copilot in Azure! In the Azure portal, select Copilot on the top right and ask, “Help me choose a size for my VM.”
• [COPILOT KEY] You can now configure the Copilot hardware key with the following policy: WindowsAI/SetCopilotHardwareKey. We recommend that you remap the Copilot key to launch the Microsoft 365 app for simplified access to Copilot experiences designed for work and education.
• [COPILOT APP][PREVIEW] If you’re a Windows Insider on any channel, get the Copilot app update from Microsoft Store. The previous Copilot progressive web app has been replaced with a native version, located in your system tray. Use the Alt + Space shortcut to open and close the Copilot quick view.
• [COPILOT+ PC][PREVIEW] Join the Windows Insider Program Dev Channel on your Copilot+ PC to preview more Copilot+ experiences! On Build 26120.2510, preview Recall and Click to Do on AMD and Intel-powered devices. Additionally, try Cocreator in Paint, Restyle Image and Image Creator in the Photos app, a modernized Windows Hello experience, and other improvements.

New in Windows Server

• [ADMIN CENTER] Investigate and manage your Windows servers with Windows Admin Center, version 2410, now generally available! Do more with platform updates, updated core tools, such as the virtual machines tool, and the updated installer for express setup. To migrate your data to the new version, use the wizard and provide input on a few items. If you’re a partner, check out our extension updates.