Microsoft to Charge for Hotpatching in Windows Server 2025: Impact on System Administrators

Microsoft has announced that its hotpatching feature for Windows Server 2025, which allows security updates to be applied without requiring a system reboot, will transition from a free preview to a paid subscription model starting July 1, 2025. This change affects on-premise deployments, with Azure-hosted servers remaining exempt from additional charges. The move has significant implications for system administrators who rely on this feature to minimize downtime and maintain operational continuity.

Key Details of the Hotpatching Policy Change

Hotpatching, introduced in Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition and later expanded to Windows Server 2025 Standard and Datacenter editions, enables administrators to apply critical security patches without rebooting servers. According to CNews¹, Microsoft will charge $1.50 per CPU core per month for on-premise deployments. Organizations using the free preview must opt out by June 30, 2025, to avoid automatic enrollment in the paid subscription. Quarterly reboots will still be required for cumulative updates, as hotpatching only covers security patches.

The decision to monetize this feature reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy of prioritizing subscription-based revenue streams for enterprise services. While Azure users benefit from continued free access, on-premise deployments face additional operational costs. This disparity may influence migration decisions for organizations weighing cloud versus on-premise infrastructure.

Technical and Operational Considerations

For system administrators, hotpatching reduces maintenance windows and minimizes service disruptions. The feature is particularly valuable in environments where uptime is critical, such as financial systems or healthcare infrastructure. However, the new pricing model introduces budgetary considerations for IT departments managing large server fleets.

Administrators should note that hotpatching has limitations. As reported by CNews¹, servers still require quarterly reboots for cumulative updates, meaning the feature doesn’t eliminate all downtime. Additionally, organizations must carefully track their CPU core counts to accurately estimate costs under the new model.

Security Implications and Best Practices

The transition period presents several security considerations. Organizations choosing to opt out must ensure they can promptly apply updates through traditional methods, which may require more frequent maintenance windows. Those continuing with the paid service should verify that all eligible servers are properly licensed to avoid compliance issues.

For security teams, the change underscores the importance of maintaining accurate asset inventories and update schedules. The following checklist may help organizations prepare for the transition:

Audit all Windows Server 2025 instances to identify hotpatching usage
Calculate projected costs based on CPU core counts
Update patch management procedures to account for the new model
Document the decision-making process for compliance purposes

Historical Context and Future Outlook

This move follows Microsoft’s pattern of gradually monetizing features initially offered as free previews. A similar approach was seen with Windows 10 features like Cortana, which faced criticism for regional limitations³. The company’s recent update quality issues, including the problematic March 2025 update that caused RDP disconnections and BSOD errors², may influence how administrators view this paid service.

Looking ahead, organizations should monitor Microsoft’s licensing policies for other convenience features that may follow this monetization path. The shift toward subscription-based models for what were previously considered core operating system functions appears to be accelerating across the industry.

For those managing Windows Server environments, the coming months will require careful planning to either budget for the new costs or adapt workflows to accommodate more frequent reboots. The decision ultimately depends on each organization’s specific operational requirements and financial constraints.