Windows device recovery now spans automatic boot fixes, full cloud rebuilds, point-in-time rollback, and temporary Cloud PCs for failed or unavailable hardware. The biggest practical change for IT teams is the combination of Intune policies, OneDrive, Autopilot, and Windows settings backup, which can restore a user’s familiar environment after a rebuild or device replacement.

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Microsoft’s August 2026 Exchange Server security update permanently disables OWA Light and addresses an authentication-bypass vulnerability that security researchers demonstrated at Pwn2Own. The release also determines whether Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 customers can continue receiving updates: only organizations enrolled in Period 2 Extended Security Updates are eligible.

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SQL Server Management Studio 22.9.0 tightens GitHub Copilot Ask Mode so it cannot execute queries, while delivering a substantial redesign of the Modern Connection Dialog. The update also improves Azure and Fabric resource discovery, connection portability, SQL formatting, and Database DevOps workflows.

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Windows 10 remains installed on 16.9% of enterprise PCs nearly a year after support ended, according to Lansweeper data. The remaining systems are concentrated in sectors such as healthcare, retail, and small businesses, where Windows 10 now has a substantially larger vulnerability burden than Windows 11.

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Microsoft is adding administrator controls and a dedicated uninstall option for the controversial OneDrive Photos experience in Windows 11. The removal option is scheduled to begin rolling out in September 2026 without deleting files or disrupting the OneDrive sync client.

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Microsoft will add a separate uninstall option for the OneDrive Photos experience in September 2026. Windows 11 users will be able to remove the unwanted app without deleting the OneDrive sync client, interrupting file synchronization, or removing cloud-stored photos and files.

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Microsoft is urging organizations running Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 to move to Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024 rather than rely on Extended Security Updates. Support ends in January 2027, while ESU will cost businesses up to $61 per device.

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When a PC is slow, hangs, or feels laggy, Windows can record a detailed performance trace while the problem occurs. A performance trace is a separate binary file (.etl) that captures fine-grained timing data about CPU, disk, memory, waits, and similar activity. Microsoft's early-preview tools ETW MCP and WPA MCP let an AI assistant ask questions about that .etl file in plain language, so you spend less time hunting through unfamiliar charts and tables.

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Microsoft’s August 2026 Patch Tuesday is expected to remain large, but the more urgent development is how administrators should respond: stop treating every CVE as an emergency and prioritize exploited, Internet-facing, and business-critical exposures. The guidance follows July’s record-breaking release and a newly confirmed SharePoint exploit.

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Patch Tuesday now delivers hundreds of vulnerabilities at once. But not every fix deserves the same urgency. Join us on Wednesday, August 12, for the Vulnerability Digest from Action1. Our experts will identify the vulnerabilities that require immediate action, explain which updates can safely wait, and show you how to prioritize remediation across your environment.

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Microsoft has set January 12, 2027, as the end of support for Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 and will begin selling Extended Security Updates (ESU) on September 1, 2026. The first year costs $61 per device, or about $45 for organizations using Intune or Windows Autopatch.

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Microsoft Intune adoption is rising, but Configuration Manager is becoming a long-term companion rather than a temporary bridge. A 2026 survey found that 55% of organizations still using ConfigMgr have no retirement plan or timeline, while Microsoft is offering limited-time partner services to help customers move difficult applications to Intune.

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Windows 11 Insider build 29639 introduces a major change to Windows Update: users can extend a scheduled update pause as many times as needed. The Experimental (Future Platforms) preview also adds a smart card security policy for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 sessions.

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