Category : News by T-Pole, Windows | Bespoke, IoT, Windows 11, Windows 11 IoT | 28 May 2025
The need for stability in the industrial environment: Windows IoT LTSC
In the complex landscape of Information Technology, particularly in the industrial sector, the stability of operating systems is a fundamental requirement. To meet this specific need, Microsoft has developed the IoT LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) versions of its operating systems.
These special editions are distinguished by their long-term support, with Microsoft committing to maintaining the security update pipeline for a full 10 years. This extended lifecycle is crucial for product developers and companies, ensuring that the operating system remains substantially unchanged for a decade from the moment the product is developed and released. This greatly simplifies maintenance and reduces the risks of incompatibility caused by major updates.
The difference in updates between IoT LTSC and non-IoT versions
It is important to highlight the fundamental difference in update behavior between Windows IoT LTSC versions and standard (non-IoT) versions.
While non-IoT versions inexorably follow Microsoft’s regular update policy, which periodically releases version updates (new builds) of the operating system with new features (so-called “feature updates”), as well as the removal of bugs and external vulnerabilities, the IoT LTSC versions take a different approach. If connected to the internet, these versions download and install exclusively quality and security updates, but without altering the base build of the operating system. For example, an LTSC 2019 version starts as and remains build 1809, receiving only corrective and security patches throughout its useful life. This guarantees the functional stability that is so sought after in the industrial field.
The choice to completely disable updates: a precautionary approach
Despite the already conservative approach of the IoT LTSC versions, some industrial clients prefer to adopt an even more restrictive policy: completely disabling updates. This choice, while seemingly counterintuitive in terms of general cybersecurity, is often dictated by the specific and stringent requirements of the operational environment. In critical industrial contexts, where the integrity and operational continuity of plants are a priority, even a tested security update could theoretically introduce an element of risk or an unexpected incompatibility with proprietary and highly specialized software or hardware. To minimize any potential variable, some therefore decide to block even these minor updates, managing security through other measures and planning any updates only after thorough testing and during controlled maintenance windows.
TPole’s support in update management
To meet these specific customer needs and offer the highest level of control over custom operating systems, TPole has developed targeted solutions. Understanding the delicate nature of update management in the industrial sector, TPole has prepared an appropriate operating system setup that allows for the effective disabling, and re-enabling when necessary, of even minor updates (security and quality updates). This offers clients the necessary flexibility to implement their own update management policy, whether that involves receiving them regularly (limited to quality updates as intended by LTSC) or preferring a complete block in order to proceed with manual and controlled updates.
Conclusion
TPole does not just provide the technical tool for managing updates; it also actively guides clients in choosing the most suitable policies for their specific operational needs and in the procedures for managing operating system updates. This consultative and personalized support approach reflects the customary high value-added level of service offered by TPole, ensuring that the implemented solutions are in line with the stability, security, and operational requirements demanded by the industrial environment and appreciated by our clients for decades.
To discover how to best customize your version of Windows 11 IoT or other operating systems, contact us today through our contact page.
