Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have trusted Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) software as the ultimate authority for patch management for years. However, relying on traditional RMM tools to deploy Microsoft updates often feels like a never-ending cycle of troubleshooting broken machines and decoding cryptic hex errors. Tired of hearing the theory that RMMs always do it better, I recently challenged several MSPs to a real-world test: we pitted their favorite RMM tools against Windows Autopatch on 10 Windows production devices. After just a few Patch Tuesdays, the results were undeniable—every single Autopatch-managed computer was perfectly up to date with zero manual intervention. If you still believe that Windows Autopatch is too complex, too expensive, or less capable than your current RMM, it is time to debunk the myths and look at how this cloud-native engine actually outperforms traditional patching. Here are the common misconceptions I’ve heard from MSPs about Windows Autopatch.
“It’s a separate offering from Microsoft which requires additional licensing.”
Most MSPs I’ve worked with think Autopatch requires an entirely new set of complex configurations. In reality, Autopatch is built on top of Windows Update for Business (WUfB). It is Microsoft’s fully-managed, automated framework which sits on top of WUfB to handle deployment rings, scheduling, and automatic rollbacks. If you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which you should, you have access to Windows Autopatch. Regardless of what some you read online, you don’t have to have Windows 11 Enterprise either, Windows 11 Professional will suffice.
“Windows Autopatch is too complicated to configure.”
This is not the case at all. You can configure Windows Autopatch by running a simple wizard. Yes, there is a little prep work, such as creating some Microsoft Entra groups for targeting Windows devices. You do NOT have to create WUfB update rings in Microsoft Intune, Windows Autopatch does this for you.
“I’m worried about Microsoft pushing updates which will cause issues for my customers.”
This is the game we all have to play whether we like it or not. We all get frustrated when Windows updates need to install in the background, or we have to reboot. This challenge is here to stay, but required for us to stay security. Using the updates rings Windows Autopatch creates for you, you can target Windows updates to a small group of computers first, and defer Windows updates for 7-14 days for the bulk of the Windows devices, then defer Windows updates for 21 days for mission critical Windows devices. You can pause deployments if an update causes issues for your customers at any time.
“My RMM solution is better for managing Windows updates.”
Windows Autopatch outperforms traditional RMM reporting by shifting from reactive troubleshooting to proactive risk prevention through its cloud-native Windows and Microsoft update readiness engine. While RMM software only flags patch failures after they occur, Autopatch analyzes your customers’ hardware configurations and prerequisites to block problematic updates before they cause user downtime. Furthermore, instead of surfacing generic Windows hex error codes, Autopatch maps out a transparent, per-device deployment journey and provides actionable, plain-language remediation steps. If you want more granular control of Windows updates, and a bunch of extra work for your techs, you can use your RMM solution. You should, however, keep your RMM software for managing third-party updates. Windows Autopatch only manages Windows, Microsoft 365 Apps, and Microsoft Edge updates.
“My RMM offers better reporting than Windows Autopatch.”
Saying an RMM has better reporting than Windows Autopatch is only true if you favor real-time dashboard updates and individual patch tracking over proactive prevention. While RMMs excel at immediate status queries and third-party software visibility, they are inherently reactive, flagging failures only after a device breaks. In contrast, Autopatch leverages native Microsoft cloud intelligence to provide update readiness, diagnosing hardware and configuration blockers before an update even attempts to install. It replaces cryptic hex error codes with plain-language remediation steps and tracks the entire deployment lifecycle directly through the Windows kernel, preventing downtime rather than just reporting it. When issues arise, the Autopatch status report provides actionable, clickable links directly within the console, taking admins straight to the required remediation steps or affected policies to resolve the conflict instantly.
There you have it, a real-world test demonstrated that Windows Autopatch surpasses traditional RMM tools by providing automated, proactive patching for Windows, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Edge, eliminating manual intervention. Despite misconceptions, Autopatch is a free, native feature within Microsoft 365 Business Premium that allows MSPs to replace reactive patching workflows with intelligent, wizard-driven automation. To modernize patch management, MSPs should consider leveraging Windows Autopatch for Windows, Microsoft 365 Apps, and Microsoft Edge updates, while maintaining their RMM for third-party software updates.
