Windows Autopatch: Patch M365 Faster

Key insights

• Windows Autopatch demo video walks through patching Microsoft 365 and Intune-managed devices from start to finish.
  It shows licensing, enabling the Autopatch Client Broker, creating groups and rings, tuning release schedules, and verifying updates in Microsoft Intune.
• Licensing now covers more customers, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium, traditional Enterprise E3, and Education SKUs.
  Confirm license and prerequisites before enrolling devices to avoid setup delays.
• Core setup steps: enable the Autopatch Client Broker, create Autopatch groups, assign devices, and configure deployment rings for phased rollout.
  Finish by applying policies and verifying compliance in Intune.
• Windows Autopatch manages multiple update types: quality, feature, driver, Microsoft 365 Apps, and Edge.
  Choose which update categories to include per ring to balance speed and risk.
• Reporting now covers all Intune-managed devices with faster client-to-cloud sync — about 4 hours latency for fresher status data.
  Set and monitor release schedules and deadlines to keep deployments predictable.
• Main benefits: automation reduces manual work, phased rollouts lower update risk, and a least-privilege access model improves security.
  Autopatch scales to large fleets and gives admins control over cadence and oversight.

Overview of the Video and Context

Dean Ellerby [MVP] published a YouTube video that walks viewers through how to patch Microsoft 365 devices using Windows Autopatch and Intune. The video is structured as a step-by-step demo and also explains licensing, setup, and validation, which makes it useful for IT teams considering automated update management. Accordingly, the story below summarizes the video’s main points, highlights recent platform changes, and weighs the practical tradeoffs administrators should consider.

What the Video Demonstrates

First, Ellerby explains prerequisites and licensing options, including support for Microsoft 365 Business Premium and education SKUs, and then shows how to enable the Autopatch Client Broker on devices. Next, he creates Autopatch groups and defines deployment rings that control phased rollouts, and then walks viewers through selecting update types such as quality, feature, driver, Microsoft 365 Apps, and Edge updates. Finally, the video covers release schedules and deadlines, applies the configuration in Intune, and verifies results so administrators can see end-to-end behavior.

Key Enhancements Highlighted

Ellerby points out several 2025 improvements that matter in practice, such as simplified activation and broader reporting that covers all Intune-managed devices with lower client-to-cloud latency. As a result, administrators get faster visibility into compliance and fewer manual activation steps during onboarding. Moreover, the expansion to include Microsoft 365 Business Premium brings automated patching to more organizations, which can change how mid-sized firms allocate patching responsibilities.

How Autopatch Works and Its Tradeoffs

Windows Autopatch enrolls devices into managed groups and deploys updates via configured rings, which automate testing, phased deployment, and live conflict monitoring while still leaving administrators control over cadence and scope. However, automation introduces tradeoffs: while it reduces manual effort and speeds scale, it also places greater reliance on Microsoft’s testing and rollout priorities, which may not match every organization’s risk tolerance or compatibility needs. Therefore, teams must balance convenience against the need for bespoke testing in complex environments, particularly where specialized drivers or legacy apps require targeted validation.

Operational Challenges and Considerations

In practice, administrators face challenges such as tuning release schedules to match business cycles, handling devices with restricted connectivity, and deciding how to group endpoints for risk mitigation. Furthermore, while the least-privilege access model reduces risk, it requires careful role design so that the right people can act quickly during a rollout issue. Consequently, organizations should plan governance, exception processes, and rollback strategies before fully delegating patching to an automated service.

Verification, Monitoring, and Reporting

Ellerby demonstrates applying changes in Intune and then verifying that updates progress through rings, noting that the new reporting reduces latency to roughly four hours for client-to-cloud data. Thus, teams gain more timely telemetry, but they still need to interpret reports and set alerts for anomalies to respond quickly. In addition, the video shows how dynamic groups and improved reporting help pinpoint problem devices, yet administrators must still validate critical apps after feature updates to avoid business disruption.

Balancing Control, Scale, and Security

Ultimately, Windows Autopatch shifts much of the heavy lifting to Microsoft while preserving important administrative controls, which makes it attractive for organizations that want consistent, cloud-driven patching at scale. On the other hand, some IT teams will trade off some direct control for the benefits of automation, and they should therefore define clear policies for exceptions, manual approvals, and staged pilot rings. In short, Autopatch works best when organizations combine its automation with internal governance that addresses unique compatibility and compliance requirements.

Practical Recommendations from the Video

To adopt Autopatch successfully, Ellerby suggests verifying license alignment, enabling the client broker, and starting with cautious rings to build confidence before scaling broadly. Additionally, teams should review least-privilege roles and reporting settings so that visibility and actionability align with operational needs. Finally, regular audits of groups and scheduled releases help maintain a balance between security and business continuity.

Conclusion and Final Takeaways

Dean Ellerby’s video offers a clear, practical walkthrough of patching Microsoft 365 devices with Windows Autopatch in Intune, while also explaining recent platform updates and the implications for IT teams. Therefore, organizations evaluating Autopatch will find the demonstration useful for planning rollout strategies, understanding licensing, and preparing governance to manage tradeoffs between automation and control. In short, Autopatch can streamline device patching at scale, but successful adoption requires thoughtful configuration, testing, and ongoing monitoring.

Keywords

Windows Autopatch, Microsoft 365 Autopatch, Autopatch patch management, Windows Autopatch setup, Microsoft 365 patching, Autopatch best practices, Autopatch compliance reporting, Automated Windows updates Autopatch