Microsoft will now release two major updates to Windows and Office every year

Along with the release date for the next Windows 10 update, codenamed Redstone 3, last week Microsoft also announced that from now on, the company will release two major updates for Windows 10 and the Office apps suite. The first update will be released in March and the second one rolled out in September. This will help enterprise customers and IT specialists to be ready for updates at the same time every year and better plan their testing and adoption stages.

This change will also impact some other products from Microsoft, including System Center Configuration Manager allowing IT pros to use it to roll out the latest software releases without any troubles.

Based on this feedback, I am excited to share today that we are aligning the servicing models for Windows 10, Office 365 ProPlus and System Center Configuration Manager for our customers, particularly those with Secure Productive Enterprise.

Microsoft officials have also mentioned that each new Office and Windows release will now be supported for 18 months.

Each Windows 10 feature release will be serviced and supported for 18 months. This is consistent with our current Windows 10 approach, but adds further clarity and predictability to organizations by aligning with Office 365 ProPlus.

Microsoft expects that these changes will help even more to keep the Windows 10 device base active. With more than 400 million monthly active devices, updated and kept secure, this will make the deployment process even easier.