Microsoft rolls out stealthy updates for 365 Apps
- Reference: 1663241350
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2022/09/15/microsoft_365_automatic_update/
- Source link:
Depending on one's set up, software updates on Windows can get held up if computers are locked or left idle, which in turn makes it harder to keep corporate networks secure and in compliance with government regulations. At the same time, the constant drumbeat of dialog boxes about updating devices can be annoying to users and disrupt their work.
Microsoft says it now has a fix for these problems. It is rolling out an optimization that will automatically apply an update to Microsoft 365 Apps while the system is locked or in idle mode, even if apps are running.
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Dubbed "update under lock," the feature is built on Microsoft's [2]Click-to-Run technology.
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The update under lock function ensures compliance within required timeframes while saving end users from disruption, according to Microsoft Product Manager Julie Lieberman. It also reduces the need to abruptly force updates and makes updates more reliable by saving the app's state before closing.
If Office apps are running at the time of the update, the feature will shut them down when it's safe to do so without losing data, apply the necessary update, and then restore the closed apps to their previous state. It's a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds.
[5]Automating Excel tasks to come to Windows and Mac
[6]Security pros get ability to manually add incidents to Microsoft Sentinel
[7]Microsoft: The deadline to get off Basic Auth is approaching
[8]Crooks target top execs on Office 365 with MFA-bypass scheme
"A common scenario is for users to leave apps open on their device for extended periods of time," she wrote in an [9]advisory . "For example, if a user is working on a Word document at the end of the day, they may leave the document open and lock the device intending to continue working on it the next day."
When documents are left open this way, Office typically can't apply updates. However, with update under lock, "the user will come back to a machine in its previous state, but they will be running the latest bits," Lieberman wrote.
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That said, the feature won't shut down the apps if it's unsafe to do so, such as when macros are running or there are unsaved changes. If that happens, the apps are not shut down and the updates will be applied as normal.
And as for controlling this behavior, Lieberman stated:
There are no admin controls for this feature. Microsoft is always optimizing your updates experience, and this thoroughly tested feature lives under the hood to make your life easier.
Update under lock will kick in on Windows devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription, Visio, or Project, though not for Teams, which has its own update process. It also will arrive for Windows PCs with retail consumer and perpetual licenses for Office 2016, 2019, and 2021.
For all devices, see the above advisory for exact version numbers and release channels that will start to pick up the changes. ®
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[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YyNMIQXtlgD7TZvklq8mwAAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/troubleshoot/office-suite-issues/office-click-to-run-faq
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YyNMIQXtlgD7TZvklq8mwAAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YyNMIQXtlgD7TZvklq8mwAAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/13/microsoft_excel_automate_tasks_windows_mac/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/12/microsoft_sentinel_manual_siem_reports/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2022/09/05/microsoft_basic_auth_deadline/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/25/microsoft_365_bec/
[9] https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/update-under-lock-improved-update-experience-for-microsoft-365/ba-p/3618901
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/applications&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YyNMIQXtlgD7TZvklq8mwAAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: "a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
I believe that was measured using Microsoft Variable Time.
The proof is the "percentage complete" timeline where seconds become minutes ... And when/if a rollback or restore is required hours become days ... by the book ...
Re: "a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
Microsoft Variable Time....
That's it! its the only possible explanation for the "time remaining" estimates when copying in Windows.
1 Min remaining, 30 Secs, 10 Secs, 46385 Days remaining ...... etc.
Re: "a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
Ah, that may explain Southern Rail timing - clearly they're using Windows.
Re: "a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
Yes, Microsoft minutes always have been the temporal equivalent of the rubber ruler for measuring length...
Re: "a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
Outlook takes 10-20 seconds to start normally. Excel et al can take far longer if the document is large.
Do they genuinely think anyone believes that?
"the feature will shut them down when it's safe to do so without losing data"
....without losing data, why did they feel they even need to say that? Previous update borkage??
MS have a real good record on that front!!
Re: "the feature will shut them down when it's safe to do so without losing data"
At least it will teach users not to leave applications open and unsaved documents, and a computer running consuming power uselessly. Moreover a running PC can be hit by ongoing attacks - while a turned off one can't.
Re: "the feature will shut them down when it's safe to do so without losing data"
why did they feel they even need to say that?
Because they like sharing joy, or at least making people laugh out loud, as much as anyone else?
Sure. What could go wrong?
Microsoft is always optimizing your updates experience
Interesting use of the word "optimizing" there, they appear to have redefined it to mean "fucking up".
At least they've informed their users that they can disable this disruption by leaving an unsaved document open in every application at all times.
Re: Microsoft is always optimizing your updates experience
It's the same way they've been optimizing our UI and general usage experience for years.
So it's an ongoing alternate definition rather than a redefinition, but your suggested meaning is accurate...
Move fast and break things: The next level
The obvious solution to users being annoyed with the frequency of updates to the point where they disrupt a significant portion of work is to patch more often but move it to the background and remove any notifications?
Not even a semblance of control any more - get used to the fact that the device and applications you paid for is controlled by Micros~1 and nobody else!
Applications having new features or missing old features or changing the workflow while you are on a coffee break won't be confusing at all (or so Micros~1 hopes).
And that's when they updates work as designed.
Microsoft is catching up with Linux
I often update my Linux boxes while running the applications that are being updated.
Re: Microsoft is catching up with Linux
Microsoft are doing this to help promote the adoption of Linux
Confidence level zero
Outlook for one is still incapable of restoring itself on the same monitor with the same layout after updates.
It's annoying, but at least I get some warning and can postpone it to the start of the next business day.
So now I'll randomly come back after lunch to find all my Office applications stacked on the primary monitor?
There are no admin controls for this feature
"There are no admin controls for this feature"
What could possibly go wrong...
Good thing Redmond has a brilliant track record with patches
Where's the "/s" ? ^^
== Bring us Dabbsy back! ==
Why?
." if a user is working on a Word document at the end of the day, they may leave the document open and lock the device intending to continue working on it the next day "
What's the problem with closing the file at the end of the day and opening it again in the morning? Are we really getting that lazy, or is this M$ being patronising again? or could they be aiming to eliminate the concept of files just like they've effectively suppressed the concept of directories? The widening gap between the knowledge of the user and the vendor can only further tie the customer down to whatever regime (predatory, hazardous or whatever) the vendor chooses to impose. It's no longer our kit at all, we just have to keep on forking out for the use of it until the vendor chooses to turn it off.
Too many things wrong with this concept
For starters, it encourages users to leave computers running 24/7. That's going to piss off the environmentalists - and I'm definitely on their side with this one: what, 8 hours of use in an office and then another 16 burning power just so it can run an update? No thanks.
Secondly, if your OS didn't take so damn long to boot up more people would turn it off at the end of the day. Last time I checked, it was considered good practice to reboot Windows boxes regularly so we shouldn't really leave them running constantly. How's that play into the 'we'll do it when the machine isn't being used' policy?
Thirdly, as already pointed out, a machine that's powered down is nicely secure. Leave it running and there's a larger corporate attack surface to have to keep tabs on.
Lastly, why the heck can't MS do updates like most modern OS's and apps? You know, quietly and in the background while the machine is in use? I know mine does - but only because I look in the logs. I'd not notice it happening otherwise.
Oh - and all this is before we even consider the (very real) risk of MS buggering the update and simultaneously leaving all users high and dry on a busy Tuesday morning. I'd hate to be tech support when those calls start stacking up.
"a process that Lieberman said takes about four seconds"
Um, and what bandwidth was that tested on ?
The internal 10GB network connection ?