Windows 11 Checkpoint Cumulative Updates

Microsoft continues to improve and change how Windows updates work, especially with so many new features and changes from the Microsoft Intune perspective. In case you haven’t heard as of yet, Microsoft has introduced the Windows 11 Checkpoint Cumulative Updates (CUs) to the mix. Microsoft is hoping to address some of the pain points for IT admins face as well as the disruptions that end users experience with large frequent updates. Let’s learn more about the new Checkpoint CUs and see how these will help to streamline the Windows update process.

The headache of previous cumulative updates

Previously with Windows cumulative updates that we have known for years now, Microsoft includes all the previous updates, up to that point in the cumulative update. Hence the name “cumulative.” However, the nature of these updates can cause massive headaches for IT staff who have to deal with the large file sizes and installation times of these sometimes massive cumulative updates. Edge environments also have to worry about bandwidth constraints.

Overview of the new Windows 11 Checkpoint Cumulative Updates

Let’s get a better understanding of what the new Windows 11 Checkpoint Cumulative Updates are exactly and how they are changing things. With the new Checkpoint updates, Microsoft is creating incremental updates that only contain the relevant updates since the last checkpoint update. In this way, each update builds on the previous checkpoint so that only the new updates since the last checkpoint update are applied. This makes the update process incremental in nature and much more efficient.

Most of us are familiar with modern backup solutions that use incremental updates to copy down only the changed blocks from the source machine compared to the previous backup iteration. The concept is very similar with the new checkpoint updates. Now, the process is focused on only the new updates since the last checkpoint.

Why Are Checkpoint Cumulative Updates Important?

Windows Updates have long been the bane of IT admins everywhere who have to support updating Windows Servers and Windows client PCs in their organizations. Windows Cumulative Updates can be massive and cause headaches related to storage space, installation times, and even bandwidth concerns in edge environments with limited connectivity. With IT admins and organizations in general needing more streamlined processes, the Microsoft Checkpoint Cumulative Updates are an answer to this challenge that will help with some of the struggles admins have faced for years now.

Note the following benefits and features of the Checkpoint updates:

1. Smaller sizes: The Checkpoint Cumulative Updates will no longer include every single previous update. They will only include the incremental changes in updates since the last Checkpoint Update was installed. This will result in update sizes being much smaller and easier to manage.
2. Faster install times: With the Checkpoint Cumulative Updates no longer including all the previous updates, and the smaller sizes, the time it takes to install them will be dramatically reduced. This will help admins to have faster update cycles and less disruption for end users.
3. Less overhead: By shrinking the update size based on the fact these are incremental in nature, Microsoft is also helping in the area of system performance and overhead. Systems will be less likely to experience performance issues or failures during the update process with the more efficient updates.
4. Legacy and current tools support: While Microsoft is changing the way cumulative updates work with the new Checkpoint Cumulative Updates, they are still supporting the new updates with legacy tools like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and new tools like Microsoft Intune and Windows Update for Business. This will help ease any burden of making major changing to Windows Update workflows.

What version of Windows starts taking advantage of Checkpoint updates?

When thinking about the Checkpoint Cumulative Updates, these will begin rolling out for Windows 11 version 24H2, and will also be used for Windows Server 2025. These updates will be cumulative updates that include the incremental changes, as mentioned, to lessen the amount of data and time involved with updating.

How Will Checkpoint Cumulative Updates Be Used?

The new Checkpoint updates will be rolling out for Windows nodes running Windows 11 (version 24H2) and Windows Server 2025, so environments will need to be running the latest versions of operating systems to take advantage of them. Still yet, these will benefit both large enterprise organizations and smaller IT environments.

Arguably those with a large number of Windows devices will benefit the most, as these updates will definitely help to streamline updates across the board and minimize network and hardware resources needed to keep systems up to date.

Some key scenarios where Checkpoint Cumulative Updates will be especially useful may include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Remote work endpoints: Many organizations are now leveraging a hybrid work environment for employees. Users may be working from many different remote locations that have various levels of connectivity. Since the new Checkpoint Cumulative Updates are much smaller in size, these types of environments will greatly benefit from the incremental updates that will be much easier to pull down over various Internet connections. It will also likely minimize the workload on helpdesk departments. Since updates will be smaller and quicker to apply, these will be less prone to errors and update failures.
2. Low bandwidth environments: Some organizations may operate in geographic locations where bandwidth is extremely limited. In these edge environments, legacy cumulative updates may take forever and compete for bandwidth that needs to be dedicated to production business processes. Now with the incremental update process, businesses will definitely see an improvement in the Windows Update experience and it will help to keep the environment secure with more regular and smaller patches.
3. Fast-moving production environments: This type of environment will arguably include most. Production environments are moving faster than ever before with critical systems needing to be online as much as possible. With the streamlined update size with the Checkpoint Cumulative Updates, all production environments will stand to benefit from the more efficient updates that incrementally include only the new updates needed.

The IT Community’s Response to Checkpoint Updates

Many IT admins will welcome any positive changes when it comes to Windows Updates as these can be time consuming and problematic with monolithic large updates that we have seen historically. The Checkpoint Cumulative Updates will definitely help those managing large-scale deployments.

The new focus on incremental changes found in updates past the last Checkpoint will make things much more efficient from a size and speed of deployment perspective. Those managing edge environments with limited bandwidth will also benefit since the size of Checkpoint Cumulative Updates will be very much reduced in size compared to what we have seen previously.

Hopefully, this will lead to better patching hygiene across the landscape of Windows infrastructure which is sorely needed with the large number of vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. Microsoft is also going to continue to support update management with traditional tools like Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and newer tools like Microsoft Endpoint Manager. So, no matter what tool is being used, you can still take advantage of the new Checkpoint Cumulative Updates in existing Windows Updates workflows.

Wrapping up

The new introduction of Checkpoint Cumulative Updates is a great new feature in the realm of Windows Updates. Most admins will be thrilled with the much smaller updates and the quicker installation times this will mean for clients and servers. In addition, this will help lessen the challenges of managing low-bandwidth edge environments that may be difficult to pull down monolithic, all-inclusive Windows Updates.

In addition, it is nice to see Microsoft continuing to support traditional tools and workflows already being used to take advantage of this new type of update. Keep in mind, these will be available with Windows 11 (version 24H2) and Windows Server 2025. As these new operating systems see adoption, the new Checkpoint Cumulative Updates will become a central part of the Windows Update strategy across the board.

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