Today, Microsoft has released Windows 10 version 1511 to the Current Branch for Business (CBB).
Every time a new feature update for Windows 10 is released, it"s considered to be part of the Current Branch (CB). For companies, these would be used for initial pilot deployments. After receiving feedback from firms, OEMs, and partners that the update is ready for broad deployment, it then gets pushed to the CBB.
In other words, if your company is still running Windows 10 version 1507 (the original July release), Microsoft is saying that 1511 is ready for you to deploy it.
Microsoft will also be releasing updated media for Windows 10 version 1511 through Windows Update, Windows Update for Business, Windows Server Update Services, its Volume Licensing Service Center, and MSDN. The only difference between the updated media and older media is that this will contain KB3140768, also known as the March Cumulative Update.
The firm also notes that for devices that are already running Windows 10 version 1511 prior to the CBB declaration, no action is necessary. As long as the March update is installed, that is the equivalent to what is being offered here.
If you"re still using 1507, here"s what you need to know:
For devices being serviced using Windows Update for Business and configured to “Defer upgrades,” Windows 10 1511 will begin to deploy as soon as the updated media has been published. (Note that the deferral policies that specify an additional number of months to defer the feature update are not supported for devices running Windows 10 1507.)
For devices being serviced using Windows Server Updates Services, the updates to the existing Windows 10 1511 feature updates will need to be re-approved once the new updated media is received (unless you have an automatic update rule configured for the “Upgrades” category).
For those using the System Center Configuration Manager Windows 10 servicing plans to keep Windows 10 devices up to date, the updated media will be detected as “business ready,” causing servicing plans based on that “business ready” designation to begin to be evaluated.
For devices that will be upgraded using System Center Configuration Manager or Microsoft Deployment Toolkit task sequences, you may want to switch to the latest media (downloaded from the Volume Licensing Service Center) instead of the current Windows 10 1511 media. Alternatively, you can inject the March cumulative update (KB3140768) into your existing media.