Minimising Downtime with Microsoft Windows Server 2025 Hotpatch: What You Need to Know
- OCM Engineers
- May 2
- 2 min read
As businesses and organisations continue to modernise their IT infrastructure, many are adopting Microsoft Server 2025 to enhance performance and security. One notable feature in this latest release is hotpatching, designed to reduce downtime during updates.
However, it's essential to understand both its benefits and limitations, especially concerning compliance with security and compliance frameworks like the Cyber Essentials.
What is Microsoft Server 2025 Hotpatch?
Hotpatching allows certain updates to be applied to Windows Server 2025 without requiring a system reboot. By updating the in-memory code of running processes, organisations can maintain higher system availability and reduce disruptions caused by traditional update processes .
#1: Benefits for Businesses
Reduced Downtime: Minimises service interruptions by eliminating the need for frequent reboots during updates.
Faster Update Deployment: Smaller update packages can be applied more quickly, enhancing overall efficiency.
Improved Security Posture: Enables quicker application of updates, potentially reducing the window of vulnerability between patch release and deployment.
#2: Subscription and Costs
While Microsoft Server 2025 hotpatching is currently available in preview at no cost, Microsoft has announced that starting 1st July 2025, it will transition to a subscription-based model. The cost is set at $1.50 USD per CPU core per month. For instance, a server with 16 cores would incur a monthly fee of $24 USD .
#3: Requirements for Implementation
To utilise hotpatching outside of Azure environments:
Windows Server 2025 Edition: Must be running Standard or Datacenter editions. Windows Server 2025 Essentials does not support hotpatching.
Azure Arc Integration: Servers need to be connected to Azure Arc, a service that facilitates management across on-premises and multi-cloud environments.
Subscription Activation: Organisations must subscribe to the hotpatching service to continue using it post-preview period.
It's important to note that servers running Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition within Azure environments will continue to receive hotpatching at no additional cost and without the need for Azure Arc integration .
#4: Compliance Considerations
While hotpatching offers operational advantages, it's crucial to recognise its limitations concerning security compliance:
Baseline Updates: Microsoft schedules four baseline updates annually (January, April, July, and October) that do require system reboots.
Non-Hotpatchable Updates: Certain critical security patches may not be eligible for hotpatching and will necessitate traditional update methods involving reboots.
Organisations adhering to the UK Cyber Essentials framework must ensure that all critical security updates are applied within 14 days. Relying solely on hotpatching could result in non-compliance if essential patches fall outside the hotpatching scope.
Final Thoughts
For those of us that have the responsibility of patching servers which inevitably has to be done late at night, Microsoft Server 2025 hotpatch presents a valuable opportunity to enhance system availability and streamline update processes. Not to mention winning back personal time.
However, it's imperative to balance these benefits with compliance obligations. At OCM Communications, we are committed to assisting businesses in navigating these complexities, ensuring that your IT infrastructure remains both efficient and compliant.
As Microsoft partners OCM offer tailored advice and support on implementing Windows Server 2025 and understanding how hotpatching fits into your organisation's compliance strategy, please contact us.
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