Maintaining Software Through the Life Cycle

By the time software is retired, it may have been patched several dozen times with security updates, driver updates, and the like; been updated with a half-dozen service packs; and gained dozens of features that weren’t in the original release. Understanding these changes and when they are likely to occur is critical for managing an IT infrastructure and for planning for future changes. Microsoft is moving toward a more consistent and predictable life cycle for its software that will make this easier, but numerous exceptions and uncertainty about new releases make this a work in progress.

This article looks at a particular type of Microsoft support that all customers are likely to use at one time or another: “bit-based” changes to Microsoft software, typically obtained through a download or a CD. An article on additional support services offered by Microsoft’s Product Support Services will be published in a future edition of Update.

Ongoing Management Required

Software needs periodic updating for many reasons, including the following: