Azure Update Manager

Azure Update Manager is Microsoft's answer to enterprise patching—replacing the WSUS and SCCM workflows that administrators have relied on for decades. It promises centralized patch management across Azure VMs, Arc-enabled servers, and hybrid infrastructure. Reality: Update Manager works well for standard Windows Server configurations but struggles with the edge cases that consume most of an enterprise patch team's time—custom applications that break after updates, servers with non-standard configurations, and compliance requirements that demand patch-level reporting. Effective Azure Update Manager deployment means understanding what it replaces and what it doesn't. It handles assessment and deployment scheduling, but enterprise patching also requires pre-patch testing, application-specific exclusions, rollback procedures, and compliance evidence. The organizations that succeed build Update Manager into broader operational workflows that include change management integration, maintenance window coordination, and automated verification that patches didn't break production applications.