{"id":519768,"date":"2025-12-05T15:11:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T22:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/?p=519768"},"modified":"2026-02-18T13:02:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:02:11","slug":"microsoft-configuration-manager-moves-to-an-annual-release-cadence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/microsoft-configuration-manager-moves-to-an-annual-release-cadence\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Configuration Manager Moves to an Annual Release Cadence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For more on Configuration Manager <a href=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/tag\/configuration-manager\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"698\">Click Here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84\"]{font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-sm, 0.9rem);font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519190_4a1b6f-84\">AI Disclaimer I love exploring new technology, and that includes using AI to help with research and editing! My digital &#8220;team&#8221; includes tools like Google Gemini, Notebook LM, Microsoft Copilot, Perplexity.ai, Claude.ai, and others as needed. They help me gather insights and polish content\u2014so you get the best, most up-to-date information possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On November 5, 2025, Microsoft has officially announced a significant change to the release model for <strong>Microsoft Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr)<\/strong>. Beginning in <strong>2026<\/strong>, the product will transition from its long-standing <strong>semi-annual release cadence to a single annual major release<\/strong>. This change brings greater predictability for IT teams and aligns ConfigMgr more closely with Microsoft\u2019s broader device management strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Changing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Historically, Configuration Manager received two major updates per year. Under the new model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>One major release will be delivered annually<\/strong>, starting with <strong>version 2609<\/strong>, targeted for <strong>September 2026<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Each release will continue to receive <strong>18 months of support<\/strong>, unchanged from the current policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Critical security fixes and essential updates will still be delivered as needed, but feature changes will be consolidated into the annual release.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This shift formalizes what Microsoft has been signaling for some time: Configuration Manager is entering a phase focused on <strong>stability, security, and long-term reliability<\/strong>, rather than rapid feature expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interim Releases Before the Annual Model Begins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the first annual release, Microsoft will deliver two transitional updates:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2509 (December 2025):<\/strong> Focused on quality and stability improvements, including ARM64-related enhancements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2603 (March 2026):<\/strong> Emphasizes security improvements aligned with Microsoft\u2019s Secure Future Initiative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2609 (September 2026):<\/strong> The first official annual release.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2709 (September 2027):<\/strong> The next planned annual release.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These interim releases help bridge the gap and prepare customers for the new cadence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Microsoft Is Making This Change<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The device management landscape has evolved significantly. Microsoft continues to invest heavily in <strong>cloud-native management through Microsoft Intune<\/strong>, which is now the primary platform for new innovation. Configuration Manager remains fully supported, particularly for on-premises and hybrid environments, but its role is shifting toward:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Long-term operational stability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Predictable servicing and upgrade planning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong security alignment with Windows client releases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This change also reduces upgrade fatigue for organizations that rely on ConfigMgr at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for IT Teams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For organizations using Configuration Manager:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Upgrade planning becomes simpler and more predictable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fewer disruptive changes occur year over year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is more time to test and validate updates before deployment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Microsoft also encourages customers to evaluate <strong>co-management and Intune adoption<\/strong> where appropriate, especially for organizations modernizing their endpoint management strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Microsoft Configuration Manager and MECM are the same product<\/strong>. See History Post here: <a href=\"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/configuration-manager-a-history-of-names\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"519769\">Configuration Manager: A History of Names<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This post is a summary and interpretation of Microsoft\u2019s official announcement. For full details, timelines, and Microsoft\u2019s complete explanation, read the original blog post here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/techcommunity.microsoft.com\/blog\/configurationmanagerblog\/announcing-the-annual-release-cadence-for-microsoft-configuration-manager\/4464794\">Announcing the annual release cadence for Microsoft Configuration Manager<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da\"]{text-align:center;font-size:var(--global-kb-font-size-md, 1.25rem);line-height:60px;font-style:normal;background-color:#f5a511;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading519075_3e93d8-da\">Want More Updates? =>Subscribe to my <a href=\"https:\/\/go.35s.be\/jtb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>JorgeTechBits  newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"font-family: Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; color: #333;\">\n    <p>\n        <strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> \n        <em>I personally love to share my learnings, thoughts, and ideas; I get great satisfaction knowing someone has read and benefited from an article. This content is created entirely on my own time and in a personal capacity. The views expressed here are mine alone and do not represent the positions or opinions of my employer.<\/em>\n    <\/p>\n    <p>\n        In my professional role, I serve as a Workforce Transformation Solutions Principal for \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/en-us\/work\/learn\/by-service-type-deployment\" style=\"color: #007db8; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;\">Dell Technology Services<\/a>. \n        I am passionate about guiding organizations through complex technology transitions and \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delltechnologies.com\/en-us\/what-we-do\/workforce-transformation.htm\" style=\"color: #007db8; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;\">Workforce Transformation<\/a>. \n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delltechnologies.com\/en-us\/index.htm\" style=\"color: #007db8; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;\">Learn more at Dell Technologies<\/a>.\n    <\/p>\n    <hr style=\"border: 0; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; margin: 12px 0;\">\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For more on Configuration Manager Click Here On November 5, 2025, Microsoft has officially announced a significant change to the release model for Microsoft Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr). Beginning in 2026, the product will transition from its long-standing semi-annual release cadence to a single annual major release. This change brings greater predictability for IT teams and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":519777,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[681,441],"tags":[698,13,742],"class_list":["post-519768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-moderneuc2","category-tech-talk","tag-configuration-manager","tag-microsoft","tag-moderneuc1"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":681,"label":"ModernEUC"},{"value":441,"label":"Tech Talk"}],"post_tag":[{"value":698,"label":"Configuration Manager"},{"value":13,"label":"Microsoft"},{"value":742,"label":"ModernEUC"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/FeaturedImage-Microsoftconfigurationmanagermovestoanannualreleasecadence-1024x350-1.png",1024,350,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Jorge Pereira","author_link":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/author\/jorge\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":681,"name":"ModernEUC","slug":"moderneuc2","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":691,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":261,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":681,"category_count":261,"category_description":"","cat_name":"ModernEUC","category_nicename":"moderneuc2","category_parent":0},{"term_id":441,"name":"Tech Talk","slug":"tech-talk","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":451,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":672,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":441,"category_count":672,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Tech Talk","category_nicename":"tech-talk","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":698,"name":"Configuration Manager","slug":"configuration-manager","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":708,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":13,"name":"Microsoft","slug":"microsoft","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":112,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":43,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":742,"name":"ModernEUC","slug":"moderneuc1","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":752,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":284,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=519768"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":519775,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/519768\/revisions\/519775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/519777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=519768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=519768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jorgep.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=519768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}