Windows 10 for Enterprise Administrators

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The Long-Term Servicing Branch

The Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) has a ten year support time frame, like with former Windows releases. The ten year time frame is also split into five years main support and five years extended support. During this ten year time frame, the LTSB will only get security and quality updates but no feature updates. Stability and not breaking anything are the most critical points.

LTSB versions are only available as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSBs. So if you do not have Windows 10 Enterprise, you won't qualify for LTSB. The version always contains a year in its name. So the first LTSB version created is now referenced as Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2015. In 2016, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 was released, but don't expect this to be a standard occurrence. Releasing the 2016 version was an exception, and the next LTSB version is not planned for release before 2019. New LTSB releases are planned typically every two or three years. To get new features, you will need to install a newer LTSB version.

IT pros getting nervous when reading about two updates per year at the CB/CBB branch may be tempted to select the LTSB as it seems at first like all the previous Windows versions' support strategies. But there are several risks and limitations when choosing the LTSB.

The LTSB was designed for specialized systems such as controlling medical equipment, point-of-sale systems, and ATMs. These devices typically perform a single important task and don't need feature updates as frequently as other devices.

The LTSB is not intended for deployment on most or all PCs in an organization; it should be used only for special-purpose devices. As a general guideline, a PC with Microsoft Office installed is a general-purpose device, typically used by an information worker, and therefore is better suited for the CB or CBB servicing branch: https://technet.microsoft.com/itpro/windows/manage/waas-overview.

Maximum compatibility, reliability, and stability are the key focuses of the LTSB, which makes changes to the kernel and system less possible. Using MS Office and other products on your system that would need changes to the system would block a patch. Therefore, you could end up in a situation where the only workaround would be waiting for the next (fixed) LTSB or changing to CB/CBB meanwhile.