Key Takeaways:
- Microsoft will officially discontinue WSUS driver synchronization in April.
- Many organizations have already shifted to tools like Microsoft Intune.
- Microsoft encourages using cloud-based update management for better automation, scalability, and security.
Microsoft is once again alerting administrators that Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) driver synchronization will be deprecated in April. The company issued a 60-day warning in the Windows Message Center earlier this week, emphasizing the need to adopt alternative update management solutions.
What is WSUS driver synchronization?
Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) driver synchronization is a process that allows the server to download and manage driver updates from Microsoft. It helps to ensure that client devices receive the necessary driver updates to maintain performance, security, as well as compatibility. WSUS connects to Microsoft’s update servers, retrieves metadata and available driver updates, and stores them for deployment across the network. Administrators can approve, decline, or schedule these updates based on organizational needs.
Microsoft highlighted the findings of a 2024 survey regarding WSUS driver synchronization. The company found that more than one-third of the surveyed organizations or IT administrators relied on WSUS to manage driver updates. The majority of the respondents had started moving to other update management methods like Microsoft Intune, Windows Update for Business (WUfB), or third-party tools.
However, 8 percent of respondents were concerned about the impact of WSUS driver synchronization being discontinued. Their worries were likely driven by uncertainty over managing driver updates without WSUS, possible compatibility challenges, and the difficulties of transitioning to alternative solutions.
How IT administrators can prepare for this change?
On April 18, Microsoft is deprecating WSUS driver synchronization to streamline update management and shift toward cloud-based solutions. WSUS driver synchronization often led to bloated databases and slow performance due to a large volume of driver updates. Moreover, most modern Windows devices can directly retrieve drivers from Windows Update, which makes WSUS-based driver distribution unnecessary.
Microsoft urges organizations to use cloud-based update management for better automation, scalability, and real-time updates. Compared to on-premises WSUS, cloud-based solutions provide enhanced compliance, security, and reduced administrative overhead.
The deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization does not mean the feature will be entirely removed immediately. Instead, Microsoft will no longer provide support for synchronizing drivers from the Microsoft Update Catalog to WSUS.
“For on-premises contexts, drivers will be available on the Microsoft Update catalog, but you won’t be able to import them into WSUS. You’ll need to use any of the available alternative solutions, such as Device Driver Packages, or transition to cloud-based driver services for your organization, such as Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch,” Microsoft explained.
The deprecation of WSUS driver synchronization will have a major impact on IT administrators, requiring them to rethink their driver update management strategies. IT teams will need to invest time and resources in adopting and optimizing new tools before the April deadline.