MC1056258 – Planned Maintenance: Windows 365 Service (archived)

Product:

Windows, Windows 365

Platform:

Online, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

User impact, Admin impact

Links:

Details:

To improve performance and reliability, we have scheduled planned maintenance for the Windows 365 service. This maintenance will occur during non-peak hours, based on the Client Device's local time zone, to minimize potential impact on your organization. For organizations with users across multiple regions, we recognize that non-peak hours may vary. Maintenance will take place separately in each region, affecting only users connecting from that location during the scheduled time. The times listed below indicate the actual maintenance start times for each region, not adjusted for different time zones.
During this period, there will be no service downtime. Users are expected to experience little to no disruption.
Maintenance Schedule:
Start Date: April 28, 2025
End Date: May 2, 2025
Daily Maintenance Window Start Times:
Africa: 23:00 UTC
Asia Pacific: 16:30 UTC
Australia: 14:00 UTC
Europe: 00:00 UTC
India: 19:30 UTC
North America: 06:00 UTC
South America: 05:00 UTC
Daily Maintenance Window End Times:
Africa: 03:00 UTC
Asia Pacific: 20:30 UTC
Australia: 18:00 UTC
Europe: 04:00 UTC
India: 23:30 UTC
North America: 10:00 UTC
South America: 09:00 UTC

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-04-16

updated:
2025-04-17

Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Disconnection During Maintenance
Users actively connected via UDP relay may experience brief, automatic reconnections, with each disconnection lasting less than a minute, potentially disrupting ongoing tasks.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/04/01/windows-365-service-updates/

Performance Variability
Even though there is no service downtime, users may experience variability in performance during the maintenance window, which could affect productivity.
   - roles: End Users, System Administrators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/04/01/windows-365-service-updates/

Communication Gaps
If users are not informed about the scheduled maintenance, they may be confused by the brief disconnections, leading to frustration and decreased user satisfaction.
   - roles: End Users, Helpdesk Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/04/01/windows-365-service-updates/

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

Enhanced User Communication
Implement a proactive communication strategy to inform users about the maintenance schedule, expected impacts, and recovery processes. This can help reduce confusion and improve user experience during maintenance windows.
   - next-steps: Develop a communication plan that includes email notifications, intranet announcements, and helpdesk updates. Schedule these communications ahead of the maintenance dates to ensure all users are informed in advance.
   - roles: IT Support, Communications Manager, Operations Manager
   - references: https://www.cio.com/article/243516/it-communication-strategies-for-it-teams.html, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/06/29/the-importance-of-communication-in-it-operations/?sh=5a1a4bce4e82

Monitoring and Feedback Mechanism
Establish a monitoring system to track user experience during the maintenance window. Collect feedback post-maintenance to assess the impact and improve future maintenance strategies.
   - next-steps: Implement tools for real-time monitoring of user connections and set up a feedback survey for users to report their experiences during the maintenance. Analyze the data to identify areas for improvement.
   - roles: IT Operations Manager, User Experience Analyst, Service Manager
   - references: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-measure-user-experience-in-it-services/, https://www.forrester.com/research/forrester-analytics/feedback-collection-and-analysis

Automation of Maintenance Notifications
Utilize automation tools to send out maintenance notifications and updates to users based on their location and time zone, ensuring timely and relevant communication without manual intervention.
   - next-steps: Research and implement automation tools that integrate with existing IT systems to schedule and send notifications. Train staff on the use of these tools for effective deployment.
   - roles: IT Manager, Automation Specialist, Helpdesk Supervisor
   - references: https://www.techradar.com/news/what-is-it-automation-and-why-does-it-matter, https://www.gartner.com/en/information-technology/insights/it-automation

Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

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