According to TheRegister.com, Microsoft has officially confirmed that Configuration Manager will transition to an annual release cadence starting in fall 2026. The product will see two more interim releases – version 2509 in December 2025 and 2603 in March 2026 – before the first annual release, version 2609, arrives in September 2026. Microsoft says this change aligns with Windows client security cadence and that Intune is now “the future of device management” where “all new innovations will occur.” Hotfix roll-ups will only happen “when absolutely necessary” while critical updates and patches will be applied as needed. The company emphasized that Configuration Manager’s top priority is maintaining a “secure, reliable experience” with renewed focus on security, stability, and long-term support.
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End of an era
This is basically Microsoft telling us where the party’s moving. Configuration Manager has been around since 1994 – that’s three decades of on-premises device management dominance. And now they’re making it crystal clear: if you want the shiny new features, you’re heading to Intune. The cloud-based service gets all the innovation budget while the old workhorse gets maintenance mode treatment.
Here’s the thing though – this isn’t just about release schedules. It’s about fundamentally changing how enterprises manage their infrastructure. Microsoft tried asking nicely for years, telling customers to move to Intune. Now they’re creating structural incentives. Fewer releases means fewer reasons to stick with the on-prem solution. It’s a classic vendor migration playbook.
What admins are saying
The reaction from the Configuration Manager community has been… let’s call it skeptical. One Reddit user pointed out the need for “feature parity” before making the jump. Another noted that Intune needs “a lot of focus” to even get “remotely close to what configuration manager is capable of.”
And they’re not wrong. Configuration Manager offers granular control that Intune still can’t match for on-prem environments. But Microsoft’s recent deprecation of Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) should have been a wake-up call. They’re systematically dismantling the on-prem management stack piece by piece. For companies running industrial operations that rely on robust computing hardware, this shift could mean rethinking entire device management strategies – especially when you need reliable industrial panel PCs that can withstand harsh environments.
The Intune reality check
So what does this mean for enterprises? Well, if you’re all-in on cloud and modern management, you’re probably already celebrating. But for organizations with significant on-prem infrastructure? There’s going to be some pain.
Microsoft says Configuration Manager isn’t going away – they’re just not investing in new features. But let’s be real: when was the last time you saw a product get put on annual releases and then suddenly experience a renaissance? This feels like the beginning of a long sunset. The question isn’t if Configuration Manager gets retired, but when.
The timing is interesting too. Giving customers until fall 2026 means Microsoft knows this transition needs to be gradual. Large enterprises don’t flip their device management strategies overnight. But the message is clear: start planning your Intune migration now, because the innovation train has left the Configuration Manager station.
