Ddos 
Microsoft has just released an announcement on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center dashboard regarding upcoming application updates and changes. The update has been marked as a major change, thereby requiring the attention and monitoring of enterprise IT administrators to ensure a smooth deployment process.
Currently, updates within the Microsoft 365 suite are categorized into the Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview), and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. Administrators may select a suitable update channel based on the organization’s specific requirements and desired update cadence.
In this latest update, Microsoft has announced the deprecation of the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) and a significant reduction in the support lifecycle for the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. As a result, IT administrators are urged to immediately review their current update channels and prepare to make necessary adjustments in line with Microsoft’s changes.
The detailed adjustments are as follows:
- Monthly Enterprise Channel: Rollback support extended to 2 months (from 1 month)
- Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview): Being deprecated – migrate devices immediately
- Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: Support duration reduced to 8 months (from 14 months), shifting to focus on unattended devices
Microsoft also offered insight into the rationale behind these changes:
Starting July 2025, the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will primarily target unattended devices. Microsoft recommends migrating interactive devices to either the Monthly Enterprise Channel or the Current Channel. Furthermore, feature updates in the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel will now receive 6 months of support (down from 14 months), with new features released in January and July, and security updates issued monthly.
The Current Channel and Monthly Enterprise Channel provide faster access to feature updates, allowing organizations to benefit from new capabilities more rapidly. However, this accelerated release cadence also demands rigorous testing before implementation, potentially increasing the workload for IT administrators.
Consequently, while opting for the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel may reduce the testing burden, Microsoft notes that this channel is primarily intended for a select group of devices that operate without user presence or those running specialized or mission-critical workloads.
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