Microsoft is introducing a paid hotpatching service for Windows Server 2025, designed to help customers minimize machine reboots. This service allows companies to pay a monthly fee to receive hotpatch updates without requiring a traditional reboot. Starting on July 1, 2025, users will have to pay $1.50 per CPU core each month for this service.
While hotpatching was previously available in preview, Microsoft confirmed that it would come with a cost for ongoing use. The service aims to reduce the number of required annual reboots from twelve to just four by providing hotpatch updates in the interim. Each year will see baseline updates in January, April, July, and October—each necessitating a reboot. However, the remaining months will receive hotpatch updates, which do not require restarting the system, providing considerable ease for businesses.
To be eligible for this service, users must utilize either the Standard or Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2025, connected to Azure Arc. Servers running Azure Editions will continue to receive hotpatching at no charge.
Microsoft clarified that users enrolled in the preview program need to opt out before June 30 if they do not wish to transition to the paid model. Additionally, the company acknowledged that occasional non-hotpatch updates might still be necessary for security purposes during hotpatch periods.
Overall, this move reflects Microsoft’s commitment to minimizing downtime and enhancing productivity for businesses using its server solutions. For detailed updates on pricing and service structure, users can refer to the dedicated pages on Microsoft’s website.