Your days of driver sync via Windows Server Update Services are numbered

Microsoft suggests a move to the cloud

Microsoft has issued administrators a 60-day warning – driver synchronization using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) will be deprecated.

The announcement was made in the Windows Message Center and is a reminder for administrators still unable to persuade the C-suite to take action that the countdown is approaching its terminal phase.

WSUS driver synchronization allows admins to deploy driver updates by synchronizing their WSUS server with the Microsoft Update Catalog. However, Microsoft wants customers to dispense with "their WSUS server" and manage their driver updates through its cloud services instead.

A Microsoft survey in 2024 showed that 34 percent of respondents used WSUS to synchronize drivers. It said: "Most of this 34 percent reported that they are in the process of implementing a different solution." However, 8 percent were worried about the effects of deprecation.

Tired admins might question the size of the survey. We've asked, but Microsoft has not given us a figure. The survey looked more like it was Microsoft testing the waters to understand how annoyed admins might be rather than asking if the change should be made.

The service is scheduled for deprecation on April 18, 2025. "For on-premises contexts, drivers will be available on the Microsoft Update Catalog, but you won't be able to import them into WSUS."

There's always the option of Device Driver Packages or a move to cloud-based driver services like Microsoft Intune and Windows Autopatch.

WSUS is also on the chopping block – Microsoft added it to the deprecation list in September 2024. The feature won't be removed for now, but Microsoft is no longer actively developing it and may retire it in the future.

Similarly, the deprecation of driver synchronization does not mean the feature will be removed, however, not being able to import drivers from the Microsoft Update catalog into WSUS is less than ideal.

It is more of a warning that admins should switch to a different solution to keep drivers up to date if haven't already. ®