Revolutionizing Updates: Hotpatching Comes to Windows Server 2025

In a world where system downtime can disrupt operations and frustrate IT teams, Microsoft is introducing a game-changing feature with Windows Server 2025: hotpatching. Announced in a recent Microsoft Windows Server Blog post, hotpatching promises to minimize reboots, streamline security updates, and enhance server uptime across hybrid and multicloud environments. Let’s dive into what hotpatching is, how it works, and why it’s a big deal for organizations managing Windows Server deployments.

What Is Hotpatching?

Hotpatching is a cutting-edge method for installing security updates on Windows Server 2025 without requiring a system reboot. Unlike traditional patching, which often necessitates restarting the server to apply updates, hotpatching patches the in-memory code of running processes. This means critical security updates can be applied seamlessly, keeping servers operational and reducing downtime.

This technology isn’t entirely new—hotpatching has been available for years in Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition, where it significantly reduced update-related disruptions. For example, Microsoft’s Xbox team leveraged hotpatching to shrink update cycles from weeks to just days, boosting efficiency for their backend services. Now, with Windows Server 2025, this capability is expanding to on-premises and non-Azure environments through Azure Arc, making it accessible to a broader range of users.

Key Benefits of Hotpatching

Hotpatching offers several advantages that make it a compelling feature for IT administrators and organizations:

• Fewer Reboots: Instead of monthly reboots for “Patch Tuesday” updates, hotpatching reduces mandatory restarts to about four times a year for baseline updates. This minimizes disruption to critical workloads and frees up IT teams for other tasks.

• Faster Update Deployment: Hotpatch update packages are smaller and install more quickly, reducing the time spent on maintenance and lowering CPU and memory usage.

• Enhanced Security: By applying security updates without delay, hotpatching shrinks the window of vulnerability, ensuring servers are protected against threats more swiftly.

• Simplified Management: Integration with Azure Update Manager streamlines patch orchestration, making it easier to manage updates across hybrid and multicloud environments.

As Microsoft humorously notes, hotpatching might even let IT pros “finally see their family on weekends” by reducing the time spent on patch management.

How Hotpatching Works with Windows Server 2025

Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 is enabled through Azure Arc, which connects on-premises or multicloud servers to Azure’s management capabilities. To use hotpatching outside of Azure, you’ll need:

• Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter edition.

• A server connected to Azure Arc.

• A subscription to the Hotpatch service (more on pricing below).

For servers running on Azure IaaS, Azure Local, or Azure Stack, hotpatching is included at no additional cost with Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Datacenter: Azure Edition, and no Azure Arc connection is required.

The hotpatching process involves establishing a baseline with a Cumulative Update, which requires a reboot. After that, hotpatches are released monthly for the next two months, building on the baseline without needing restarts. Every three months, a new baseline update is applied, requiring a reboot to incorporate non-security updates and maintain system parity with traditional update channels.

Availability and Pricing

Hotpatching is currently in preview for Windows Server 2025, available at no charge until June 30, 2025. This gives organizations a chance to test the feature and evaluate its impact on their operations. Starting July 1, 2025, hotpatching will transition to a subscription service priced at $1.50 USD per CPU core per month for Azure Arc-enabled servers.

Important Note: If you’re using the preview and don’t want to continue with the paid subscription, you must disenroll by June 30, 2025, to avoid automatic billing. For users of Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition on Azure platforms, hotpatching remains included at no extra cost.

Beyond Servers: Hotpatching for Windows 11

Hotpatching isn’t limited to servers. As highlighted at Microsoft Ignite, the feature is also available for Windows 11 Enterprise (version 24H2), bringing similar benefits to client devices. This expansion underscores Microsoft’s commitment to reducing downtime and improving security across its ecosystem.

Why Hotpatching Matters

For organizations running critical workloads, every minute of downtime counts. Hotpatching addresses a long-standing pain point in server management: the need for frequent reboots to apply security updates. By reducing reboots to a quarterly schedule and enabling faster, less intrusive updates, hotpatching can save time, reduce operational costs, and improve system reliability.

The integration with Azure Arc also aligns with Microsoft’s broader vision of hybrid and multicloud flexibility. Whether your servers are on-premises, in Azure, or hosted on platforms like Hyper-V or VMware, hotpatching ensures consistent security and management capabilities. This is particularly valuable for organizations adopting hybrid cloud strategies, as it bridges the gap between on-premises infrastructure and cloud-native features.

Getting Started with Hotpatching

Ready to try hotpatching? If you’re evaluating Windows Server 2025, you can enable the preview through the Azure Arc agent included in the operating system. For Azure-based deployments, hotpatching is already available for Datacenter: Azure Edition users. Microsoft encourages IT teams to test the feature now while it’s free and explore how it can transform their update workflows.

For more details, check out the official Microsoft documentation on Hotpatch or the Windows Server 2025 blog post.

Looking Ahead

Hotpatching is a glimpse into the future of server management, where uptime, security, and efficiency take center stage. As Windows Server 2025 rolls out, this feature is poised to become a cornerstone of Microsoft’s hybrid cloud strategy, empowering organizations to stay secure without sacrificing productivity. Whether you’re managing a small on-premises server farm or a sprawling multicloud environment, hotpatching could be the key to saying goodbye to the endless cycle of restarts.

What do you think about hotpatching? Are you excited to try it out, or do you have questions about its implementation? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going!

Disclaimer: Pricing and availability details are based on Microsoft’s announcement as of April 24, 2025, and are subject to change. Always verify with official sources before making purchasing decisions.

Streamlining Azure Local Management with Microsoft Copilot in Azure

 Managing Azure Local instances can be complex, but Microsoft Copilot in Azure offers a powerful AI-driven solution to simplify operations, enhance efficiency, and provide actionable insights. In this blog post, we’ll summarize key insights from the Microsoft Learn article on how Copilot in Azure helps users work smarter with Azure Local instances.

What is Microsoft Copilot in Azure?

Microsoft Copilot in Azure is an AI-powered assistant integrated into the Azure ecosystem, designed to help users manage their cloud and hybrid infrastructure more effectively. For Azure Local instances, Copilot leverages large language models (LLMs), the Azure control plane, and contextual insights to deliver real-time, context-aware support. Whether you’re troubleshooting issues or seeking information about your hybrid setup, Copilot pulls relevant data based on your conversation or the Azure portal page you’re viewing.

Key Scenarios for Azure Local Management

The article highlights several scenarios where Copilot shines in managing Azure Local instances:

1. Summarizing Instance Status
   Users can prompt Copilot with queries like “summarize my Azure Local instances” to get a concise overview, including the number of instances, their status, and any active alerts. Follow-up questions, such as “tell me more about the alerts,” provide deeper details, making it easier to monitor and address issues.
2. Troubleshooting and Insights
   Copilot assists in identifying problems by offering suggestions based on diagnostic data. For example, if an instance is stuck in an upgrading state, Copilot can recommend potential fixes, saving time and reducing manual investigation.
3. Customizable Prompts for Flexibility
   The article encourages users to experiment with tailored prompts to suit their specific needs. Whether checking resource health or exploring configurations, Copilot adapts to provide relevant, actionable responses.

Why It Matters

Copilot’s ability to pull context automatically and clarify ambiguous queries makes it a game-changer for hybrid infrastructure management. It streamlines workflows by reducing the need to navigate multiple Azure services manually. Plus, its integration with the Azure portal and mobile app ensures accessibility, allowing users to manage operations from anywhere.

Getting Started

To make the most of Copilot in Azure:

• Experiment with Prompts: Start with the sample prompts provided in the article, then modify them to fit your scenarios.
• Explore Capabilities: Dive into Copilot’s features, such as generating scripts or navigating services, to unlock its full potential.
• Stay Updated: Check the Azure documentation for the latest Copilot features, as capabilities are continually evolving.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Copilot in Azure empowers users to manage Azure Local instances with greater ease and precision. By offering real-time insights, troubleshooting support, and flexible prompt-based interactions, it’s a valuable tool for IT professionals looking to optimize their hybrid environments. Ready to work smarter? Explore Copilot in Azure today and transform how you manage your Azure resources.

For more details, visit the full article on Microsoft Learn.

 

Azure Local 2504: Powering the Future of On-Premises Cloud with New Features

Microsoft’s Azure Local (formerly Azure Stack HCI) has rolled out its version 2504, packed with updates that enhance deployment, security, and virtual machine (VM) management. This release strengthens Azure Local’s position as a go-to solution for enterprises needing robust, scalable, and secure on-premises cloud infrastructure. As a Technical Systems Architect, I’m excited to dive into the key features and improvements in this update, as outlined in the Microsoft Learn documentation. Let’s explore what’s new and why it matters.

Streamlined Deployment and Management

Azure Local 2504 introduces changes that make deploying and managing distributed infrastructure smoother than ever:

• Cloud-Based Extension Installation: Extensions are now installed during the machine validation step of Azure Local instance deployment, rather than at registration. This shift simplifies the setup process, whether you’re deploying via the console or Azure portal. It’s a small but impactful change that reduces setup friction for IT teams.

• Configurator App Takes Over: The local UI has been deprecated, replaced by the Configurator app. This modern tool streamlines the bootstrapping of Azure Local machines, making it easier to get systems up and running.

These updates reflect Microsoft’s focus on simplifying the user experience, allowing architects and admins to deploy Azure Local instances with greater efficiency.

Enhanced Arc VM Management

For organizations leveraging Azure Arc-enabled VMs, version 2504 brings several

Read more here: What's new in Azure Local, version 23H2 release - Azure Local | Microsoft Learn

Azure Kubernetes Service Now Included with Azure Local: A Game-Changer for Hybrid Deployments

 Azure Kubernetes Service Now Included with Azure Local: A Game-Changer for Hybrid Deployments

In a recent announcement at Microsoft Ignite 2024, Azure Local has emerged as a powerful solution for organizations looking to manage diverse workloads across distributed environments. One of the standout features of this release is the inclusion of Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) enabled by Azure Arc at no additional cost with Azure Local (starting with the 2402 release and later, effective January 2025). This development, as highlighted in Lisa at the Edge’s blog post, brings significant benefits for businesses aiming to streamline their hybrid and edge computing strategies. Here’s a summary of the key points from the article and why this matters.

What is Azure Local?

Azure Local is a cloud-connected infrastructure platform designed to extend Azure’s capabilities to on-premises and edge locations. It allows organizations to run virtual machines (VMs), containers, and select Azure services on customer-owned infrastructure while maintaining a unified management experience through Azure’s cloud portal. With support for both connected and disconnected operations (the latter in preview for prequalified customers), Azure Local caters to a wide range of use cases, from retail stores to remote industrial sites, ensuring flexibility for legacy and modern applications alike.

AKS on Azure Local: What’s New?

The inclusion of AKS, Microsoft’s managed Kubernetes service, with Azure Local is a major highlight. AKS enabled by Azure Arc simplifies the deployment and management of containerized applications across hybrid and multicloud environments. Key features include:

• Automatic Setup and Updates: AKS is pre-configured with each new Azure Local instance and automatically updated, reducing operational overhead.
• Support for Linux and Windows Containers: Azure Local provides Microsoft-supported container host images for both operating systems, ensuring compatibility for diverse workloads.
• Integrated Tools and Services: AKS on Azure Local comes with a storage (CSI) driver and seamless integration with Azure services like Microsoft Defender for Containers, Azure Monitor, and GitOps for continuous delivery.
• Consistent Management: Administrators can provision and manage Kubernetes clusters using familiar Azure tools such as the Azure portal, CLI, and ARM templates, with every cluster automatically Arc-enabled for enhanced management.

This integration means businesses can now deploy Kubernetes-based applications alongside VMs and other workloads on the same Azure Local infrastructure, all managed under a single pane of glass.

Why This Matters

The inclusion of AKS with Azure Local addresses several pain points for organizations managing distributed environments:

1. Cost Efficiency: By bundling AKS at no extra charge (for 2402 release and later), Azure Local reduces the financial barrier to adopting managed Kubernetes, making it more accessible for organizations of all sizes.
2. Simplified Operations: The automated setup and updates, combined with Azure Arc’s unified management, minimize the complexity of running Kubernetes in on-premises or edge environments.
3. Hybrid and Edge Enablement: AKS on Azure Local supports modern containerized applications in scenarios where cloud connectivity may be limited, such as retail, manufacturing, or remote locations, enabling businesses to modernize legacy systems while adopting cloud-native practices.
4. Enhanced Security and Monitoring: Integration with Microsoft Defender and Azure Monitor ensures robust security and performance visibility, critical for distributed deployments.

Real-World Implications

For organizations managing a mix of legacy VMs and modern containerized applications, Azure Local with AKS offers a unified platform to bridge the gap. For example, a retail chain could deploy AKS clusters in stores to run containerized point-of-sale applications, while also hosting VMs for legacy inventory systems, all managed through Azure’s cloud portal. The disconnected operations option (in preview) further extends this capability to highly regulated or remote environments, ensuring compliance and operational continuity.

Pricing and Availability

Azure Local is priced per physical core on on-premises machines, with a 60-day free trial for new registrations. AKS enabled by Azure Arc is included at no additional cost for connected operations starting January 2025. For disconnected operations, pricing details require consultation with an account representative, as this mode is currently in preview for prequalified customers.

Final Thoughts

The integration of AKS with Azure Local marks a significant step forward in Microsoft’s hybrid cloud strategy, offering organizations a cost-effective, flexible, and unified platform to manage diverse workloads. By combining the power of managed Kubernetes with Azure’s cloud management capabilities, Azure Local empowers businesses to modernize applications, optimize operations, and scale efficiently across on-premises, edge, and cloud environments. As Lisa at the Edge notes, this release underscores Azure’s commitment to meeting customers where they are, providing tools to tackle the complexities of distributed infrastructure with ease.

For more details, check out the full article on Lisa at the Edge’s blog and explore Azure Local’s pricing and capabilities on Microsoft Azure’s official site.

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This blog post condenses the key insights from the original article, focusing on the significance of AKS integration with Azure Local and its benefits for hybrid and edge deployments. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments or additional details!