It's Over: Windows 8.1 Update 1 Reprieve for Businesses Ends Next Week

With 9 new critical and important bulletins releasing next week for Microsoft's Patch Tuesday on August 12, it's most important to remember that business users will not receive security updates for Windows 8.1 unless Update 1 has now been applied.

Released in April 2014, Update 1 (KB2919355) is a required update. Delivered initially as a necessary update for all PCs and tablets, Microsoft conceded to business customer complaints and chose to allow business more time before the update became mandatory, eventually setting August as the deadline date.

If you remember, though, Update 1 was not a perfect patch. It took Microsoft a few tries to get the update right so that it would install properly on the majority of target computers, which resulted in an expanded deadline for even consumers and small business who use Windows Update. There were long community threads detailing problems getting the update installed, and some simply gave up.

But, the fact remains, once August 12 hits – unless Microsoft surrenders again – those without Update 1 installed will forever stop receiving monthly patches and updates. For those that have either forgotten about the deadline or somehow just didn't know, you have more work to do before Tuesday.