Microsoft to Lock Hotpatching Behind Paywall for Windows Server 2025

Microsoft will transition its hotpatching feature for Windows Server 2025 to a paid subscription model in July. Organizations aiming to minimize downtime with seamless updates will now need to pay $1.50 per CPU core each month to access hotpatch updates.

What is hotpatching and why does it matter?

Microsoft first released a hotpatching preview for Windows Server 2025 in 2024. This feature allows administrators to apply security updates and patches without requiring reboots. It’s particularly useful for critical systems that need to maintain high availability and minimize downtime.

Microsoft has recently announced that the preview of its hotpatching feature will end on June 30. Starting on July 1, hotpatching will be available as a subscription service costing $1.50 per CPU core per month. This means users will need to pay to continue using hotpatching updates on Windows Server 2025. However, non-hotpatch updates will still be available for free for commercial customers.

Eligibility requirements for using hotpatching

To use hotpatching in on-premises or multicloud environments, customers must be using Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter editions, and their server must be connected to Azure Arc. Keep in mind that customers who are already enrolled in the hotpatching preview program must disenroll before June 30 if they don’t wish to transition to the paid subscription service.

“The hotpatch service provides up to eight hotpatches in a year. It follows a three-month cycle with the first month as a baseline month (monthly cumulative update) followed by two months of hotpatches. During baseline months the machines will need a reboot,” Microsoft explained. “On rare occasions, for security reasons we may have to ship a non-hotpatch update during a hotpatch month which will also need a reboot. But the goal will be to provide up to eight hotpatches in a year. ”

What does this mean for organizations running Windows Server 2025?

Microsoft has clarified that adopting patching is optional for Windows Server 2025 customers. They can continue to receive regular software updates on the existing schedule at no additional cost. However, Microsoft anticipates that some users will find the hotpatching subscription valuable for minimizing downtime.

It’s important to note that Windows Server 2025 is priced at $1,176 for the Standard edition and $6,771 for the Datacenter edition. Moreover, the cost per CPU core is $33.58 per month. The new hotpatching subscription would be seen by some organizations as an additional charge on top of already significant expenses.