Microsoft’s $1.50 No-Reboot Security Updates Start July 1
Security updates are important, especially when they protect an operating system used by billions of people. That’s why Microsoft has had a rough month. Recently, a Windows security update created a new folder called “inetpub” without explaining why. Some people online said to delete it, but then Microsoft warned that doing so could make your computer easier to attack. Now, it turns out that update could actually open the door to a new kind of Windows hack. And that’s not the only problem—Microsoft has another controversial change coming: charging a monthly fee for special no-reboot security updates.
What Is Windows Hotpatching?
Back on April 14, it was reported that Microsoft is adding something called “hotpatching” to Windows. Hotpatching lets security updates install without needing to restart your computer. These updates work by fixing the running processes directly in memory, making the updates faster and smoother.
At first, this was only for a special version of Windows 11 Enterprise (version 24H2) for computers using AMD or Intel CPUs and managed through Microsoft Intune. But now, Microsoft staff, Janine Patrick and Artem Pronichkin, have confirmed that hotpatching will also come to Windows Server 2025, starting July 1, when it moves out of the testing phase.
Microsoft says hotpatching has many benefits. There will be fewer reboots, smaller and faster update packages, and better patch management using Azure Update Manager. Most importantly, fixing vulnerabilities faster means there’s less time for hackers to attack before systems are protected. This is good news, especially when admins usually delay installing updates because they don’t want to deal with reboots.
Who Has to Pay for Hotpatching?
Hotpatching for Windows Server 2025 will become a paid subscription starting July 1. To use it, your servers must be running Windows Server 2025 Standard or Datacenter editions and must be connected to Azure Arc. You also must subscribe to the Hotpatch service.
While hotpatching is free for Windows Server Datacenter: Azure Edition users, it will cost others $1.50 per CPU core per month for Windows Server 2025. Yes, that means if your server has many cores, the cost can add up quickly.
Microsoft says even with hotpatching, servers will still need to reboot about four times a year for big updates. But it should save time and make patching less of a hassle the rest of the year. The service is optional, so it’s up to users to decide if the benefits are worth the cost.
