Even though Windows 11 is out, Windows 10 is still supported and regularly updated by Microsoft. The latest update to Windows 10, called 21H1, was released in May of 2021 and is now widely released to everyone who runs Windows 10. Microsoft is also on the verge of releasing their newest update to Windows 10, 21H2, which will begin rollout later this month.
Like the 21H1 release and the Windows 11 update, Microsoft does not release significant updates all at once. Since the Windows operating system can run on computers from various manufacturers with a seemingly infinite number of hardware configurations and options, there is no way that Microsoft can test their updates on every platform. When a new update or operating system is released, they do so for a limited number of manufacturers with the hardware they have a high level of confidence will run the new software successfully.
Beta Testing cannot catch all the issues
Whenever there is a new release, we often hear about issues with the software that require patches or updates to fix. It is easy to write off Microsoft as being careless and releasing software that is not ready. When your software is expected to run on the practically infinite number of hardware combinations from an endless list of manufacturers, there is quite literally no way you can test everything you need to. Issues will inevitably be found quickly once an update is released. This does not mean Microsoft is being careless. On the contrary, Microsoft only releases updates to a limited number of people at a time, showing that they are aware of the eventuality of issues and are doing what they can to limit the number of machines that may experience problems at the same time.
These predictable issues are also the reason why we do not update computers as soon as a major release is available. For example, look at how Microsoft rolled out their May 21H1 update. It was released in May, and it is now November, and it has just now been made available to everyone.
Don’t be in a rush to update
You depend on your work computers every day. You need to know that your computer is ready for business. Since there is a high percentage chance of issues with new software, it is not recommended that you update your computer as soon as a major update is available. If unforeseen problems cause you to have downtime on your computer, it could translate to lost business. It is more important for us to know that a release is ready rather than rush to update to the latest release.
Updating your computer is a balancing act. You don’t want to be the first to update, but you also don’t want to fall too far behind. While these major updates are usually more about functionality updates and improvements, security updates are extremely important to protect your computer and your data. It is hard to find the balance, and you should not have to think about it. When we manage your computers and your updates, we make sure you are getting the updates needed to protect your data. We also make sure that when a major update is sent to your computer, it is adequately tested. As a result, we have a very high level of confidence that the update will be successful, and you can continue to work uninterrupted.