Microsoft has changed the way of update delivery which they have been following for ages.


Microsoft has changed the way of update delivery for Windows 7 and 8.1. As per the Technet blog below, October 2016 onwards each month Microsoft will release a monthly roll-up for these operating systems and this will be called as cumulative update which is similar to the one we see in Windows 10.
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsitpro/2016/08/15/further-simplifying-servicing-model-for-windows-7-and-windows-8-1/
When we run Windows update in Microsoft’s older operating systems it will download individual update from Microsoft update website and each update will be having different roles. If we could not run the update for 3 or 4 months, we will have to fetch plenty of updates from cloud. If we are performing a fresh install, situation will be even worse. Updates will be hundreds.
But this problem has been addressed in Windows 10 since it is launched. Each month Microsoft will release one or two updates. One cumulative update contains all security updates and fixes also the updates of previous months. If the system is not updated for a few months, we will not have to download hundreds of updates instead we just need to download and install current month’s cumulative update. The system will become up-to date.
We know, on last May Microsoft had released a convenience roll up for Windows 7 which includes all security, critical and reliability fixes since Windows 7 SP1. It might have been the first step of switching of update delivery to new model.
It is almost sure that we will have the first monthly rollup of Windows 7 and 8.1 on October 2016. This patch will be available through Windows update, WSUS and SCCM. Each month Microsoft will release monthly roll-up for 7 and 8.1 and this patch will include previous month roll-ups as well.
Advantages of this update delivery over the old method
  1. Update testing will be very easy for organizations as we will not have to test out individual patches as earlier instead we just need to test one monthly rollup.
  2. Finding right patches for OS were little bit difficult. Now this is going to become easier.
  3. Superseded patches will be handled itself
  4. Scan times will decrease.
However, I could see a slight disadvantage in this approach. If we come across an issue with any of the monthly rollup, we will have to remove this monthly rollup and will lose all security updates and fixes of that month. Earlier it was possible to find and remove individual patches. But we hope this would not be a serious issue. If we consider the advantages of this combined package approach, we just forget this disadvantage.
There is one more news from other trusted sources describes Microsoft will be releasing a combined package of only security updates each month. It won't include fixes or feature changes.This patch pack will be available only though WSUS and SCCM. Normal Windows update users will not get it.

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