Before we start looking at and discussing the infrastructure that is required to deploy software updates in Configuration Manager, it is important to understand the terms used in software updates as well as discuss the capabilities of Configuration Manager in terms of software update deployment.

You can deploy software updates in an enterprise environment using Windows Software Update Services (WSUS). This is a free tool from Microsoft, which is a server role within Windows Server. Once installed, you can manage and deploy updates to managed clients.

As you are already using Configuration Manager, you can also leverage this functionality from within Configuration Manager, which also takes advantage of the WSUS technology.

The difference between the two implementations is that as a standalone system, WSUS will manage and deploy updates; however, when used with Configuration Manager, WSUS is used to download the update manifest from Microsoft. Configuration Manager is then responsible...