Hotpatching, the technology that allows installing Windows updates without a reboot, has come to Enterprise editions of the operating system. Windows 11 version 24H2 is the first version to have this improvement. Security hotpatches are now available as a preview for Windows 11 Enterprise (version 24H2) and Windows 365.
The hotpatching method requires the Virtualization Based Security (VBS) feature to be enabled on the system. The official Microsoft documentation states that the “hot patching” method replaces the loaded code of running processes in memory without the need to restart them.
So, such updates are applied by patching code in memory of running processes, ensuring that protection against current vulnerabilities is quickly implemented without interrupting the user experience. Microsoft emphasizes that hot updates contain only security fixes and do not include any additional features or improvements.
During the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, and October), operating systems will receive standard cumulative updates, which include bug fixes, new features, and security enhancements. A reboot is required to complete the installation. In the following two months, "hot updates" will be made available, containing only security patches, and these do not require a reboot.
To test hot patching technology, the following requirements must be satisfied:
- A Microsoft subscription that includes Windows Enterprise E3 or E5 (e.g. Microsoft 365 A3/A5 or Microsoft 365 F3). A Windows 365 Enterprise subscription is also acceptable.
- Target devices must be running Windows 11 Enterprise (version 24H2, build 26100.2033 or later).
- Microsoft Intune
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