How to Prepare for Exchange Server 2021 Cumulative Updates
The Exchange team recently announced that December 2021 cumulative updates for Exchange Server have been postponed. This is no doubt a huge disappointment for server admins who have been preparing their environment to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. However, it’s important to remember that Microsoft is committed to the security and stability of their products and takes the decision to postpone updates only when absolutely necessary.
Understanding the Postponement
The postponement of the December 2021 cumulative updates is due to an issue related to the database schema. Microsoft is working to address this issue and plans to release the updates in early 2022. In the meantime, admins should use the October 2021 cumulative updates and the Exchange Server 2021 Security Baseline to ensure their environment is up-to-date and secure.
Preparing for the Updates
While admins wait for the December 2021 cumulative updates to be released, there are a few steps they can take to ensure their environment is ready for the updates.
Planning and Testing
Before deploying any updates, admins should plan and test the updates in a non-production environment. This will help admins identify any potential issues and ensure the updates can be deployed successfully.
Documentation and Backup
Admins should also document their environment and create a backup of their system before deploying the updates. This will allow admins to quickly revert back to the previous version of Exchange Server if they encounter any issues with the new updates.
Network and Storage Requirements
Admins should also make sure their network and storage infrastructure meets the minimum requirements for the new updates. This includes ensuring the network and storage have sufficient capacity to accommodate the new updates.
Scripts and Automation
Admins should also look into automating the deployment of the updates. This will help minimize downtime and ensure the updates are deployed quickly and efficiently.
Conclusion
The postponement of the December 2021 cumulative updates for Exchange Server is a disappointment, but admins can take the time to prepare their environment for the updates. By planning and testing the updates, documenting their environment, creating backups, meeting network and storage requirements, and automating the deployment process, admins can ensure the updates are deployed quickly and successfully.
By using this approach, admins can rest assured that their Exchange Server environment will be up-to-date and secure when the December 2021 cumulative updates are released in early 2022.
References:
December 2021 Exchange Server Cumulative Updates postponed
