Microsoft has delayed a significant update to its patch
management tool and its single patching service until the first
half of next year because of security work related to Windows XP it
had to do first.
As a result of the additional delays, "Microsoft Update", the
planned successor to the current Windows Update service, and
Windows Update Services (WUS), formerly known as Software Update
Services (SUS) 2.0, are now expected to become available a full
year later than originally promised. Both had already been pushed
back six months.
Confirmation of further delays came at the second annual
worldwide partner event in Toronto, where Microsoft is pitching
security to partners as a "competitive advantage".
Before finishing up WUS, which is currently in beta, Microsoft
had to finish work on Windows Update version 5, an in-between
update to the Windows Update service that is instrumental for the
distribution of the forthcoming security-focused Service Pack 2 for
Windows XP, said Mike Nash, corporate vice-president of Microsoft's
security business and technology unit.
"The Windows Update Services team is now transitioning from work
on Windows Update version 5 on to Windows Update Services," Nash
said. WUS and Microsoft Update are closely related, so both
products have been delayed, he said.
Microsoft probably underestimated the complexity of building a
more complex patch management product, said Peter Pawlak, a lead
analyst at Directions on Microsoft.
"I am speculating that there were a lot of problems with the
beta and that they had to go back and work on WUS," he said.
Windows Update version 5 is not such a big deal that it would
explain a delay of WUS, he added.
"While it is unfortunate because Microsoft is trying to
[position its security features] as a competitive strength rather
than a weakness, if they ran this out and it was really buggy and
faulty they would do more damage to themselves than being
late."
Microsoft Update is a single service for users to get patches
for all Microsoft products, not just Windows and will be aimed
mostly at consumers and small businesses, as Windows Update is
today.
WUS is a significant update to SUS, Microsoft's no-charge patch
management tool for business users. It includes improvements in
patch delivery, status reporting, network usage and improved
implementation and administration flexibility.
New functionality also includes the ability to patch not only
Windows operating systems but also SQL Server, Office System and
Exchange Server products.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service