Different organizations have different ways of managing updates for Office 365, depending on their specific needs and infrastructure. Some organizations may use a tool like System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to manage updates for all of their devices, including those running Office 365. Others may use Microsoft Intune, or a third-party mobile device management (MDM) solution, to manage updates for Office 365 on mobile devices. Still others may simply rely on Microsoft Update, which is included with Windows, to keep Office 365 up to date.
The bottom line is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how to manage Office 365 updates. It depends on your specific environment and needs. However, there are some general best practices that can be followed, regardless of which method you use to manage updates for Office 365.
First, it's important to understand the update process for Office 365. Microsoft releases new updates for Office 365 on a regular basis, typically once per month. These updates are cumulative, meaning that each new release includes all of the updates from previous releases. Microsoft also offers an Office 365 Admin app, which can be used to manage updates for Office 365.
Once Microsoft releases new updates for Office 365, they are typically available for download within 24 hours. However, it can take up to two weeks for all users to receive the updates, depending on when their devices check for updates.
Once the updates are downloaded, they are installed automatically in the background. Users do not need to take any action to install the updates.
It's important to note that Office 365 updates cannot be uninstalled. Once they are installed, they are permanent. This is one of the benefits of using a cloud-based service like Office 365: Microsoft takes care of all of the updates and maintenance, so you don't have to.
If you're using SCCM to manage updates for Office 365, you can configure it to download and install updates automatically. You can also use SCCM to deploy updates to specific devices or groups of devices. For more information on using SCCM to manage Office 365 updates, see this article.
If you're using Intune or another MDM solution to manage updates for Office 365, you can also configure it to download and install updates automatically. For more information on using Intune or another MDM solution to manage Office 365 updates, see this article.
If you're relying on Microsoft Update to keep Office 365 up to date, you can configure it to check for and install updates automatically. For more information on using Microsoft Update to manage Office 365 updates, see this article.
Regardless of which method you use to manage updates for Office 365, it's important to test new updates before rolling them out to all users. Microsoft offers a Office 365 for businessUpdate Management guide that can be used to test new updates. This guide includes instructions for configuring a test environment and deploying updates to a limited group of users.
Following these best practices will help ensure that updates for Office 365 are deployed smoothly and with minimal disruption to users.
