This post is a step by step guide to deploy Office 365 updates using SCCM. SCCM makes it easy not to deploy Office 365 but to manage office 365 software updates as well. In my previous posts, I covered on deploying Office 365 using SCCM. I also posted Office 365 client management dashboard details.

After you deploy Office 365, deploying software updates is the next major task. SCCM has the ability to manage Office 365 client updates by using the Software Update management workflow.

Office 365 updates when deployed to client computers are first downloaded in local client cache. Since Office 365 client updates are huge, ensure that you configure the cache settings prior to deployment. Starting with SCCM 1606, you can specify the cache folder size using client settings in the Configuration Manager console.

Step-by-Step Guide to Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

To deploy Office 365 updates using SCCM, you need to configure some basic steps. Once you configure these steps, you can quickly deploy Office 365 updates using configuration manager.

Step 1 – Verify the Requirements

To deploy Office 365 updates ensure you meet the below requirements.

  • Your setup must have at least SCCM 1606 or later version of SCCM running.
  • An Office 365 client and Supported channel version for Office 365 client.
  • Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 4.0

If you have met all the above requirements, you can proceed to step 2.

Step 2 – Configure Software Update Points

I am sure you would have configured software update point because that is required to deploy updates. However if you not configured your software update point, then you can follow this post.

Under Software Update Point component properties, click Classifications tab. Ensure that Updates classification is checked. In addition to this, if you make any other changes, remember to synchronize software updates once.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Go to software update point properties and click Products tab. Under Office product, select Office 365 client. Click OK and close SUP properties window.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Synchronize the software updates again and open wsyncmgr.log file. You should now see some synchronizations related to Office 365. Wait for the synchronization to complete.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Once the sync is complete, look for Office 365 updates. Click Software Library > Overview > Office 365 client management. Click Office 365 updates and you will see all the Office 365 updates. Proceed to Step 3 now.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Step 3 – Enable Office 365 clients to receive updates from SCCM

With Configuration Manager version 1606 and above, you can easily manage Office 365 client agent. This setting is part of Configuration Manager client settings. Once you configure this setting, the SCCM client agent talks to Office 365 client agent to download the updates from a distribution point and install them.

In SCCM console, navigate to Administration > Overview > Client Settings. Right click default client settings and click Software Updates. Look for option “Enable management of the Office 365 client agent“. Click the drop-down and click Yes. Click OK. So by enabling this option you can now manage Office 365 client agents using SCCM.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Step 4 – Deploy Office 365 updates to clients

To deploy Office 365 updates to clients using SCCM, you need to perform some more steps. There are two ways to deploy Office 365 updates.

  • Manually deploy software updates – We will use this method in this post.
  • Automatically deploy software updates – Using automatic deployment rule (ADR).

In step 2 we configured SUP to include Office 365 updates. We will now go through the steps to deploy Office 365 updates using SCCM.

After running software updates sync, i have got some more Office 365 updates. All these updates won’t be deployed. Looking at my Office 365 client edition, the current build is 9126.2275. Out of all the updates, I use search criteria to filter out the updates. In the below screenshot, i have set to filter updates that aren’t expired and date release is less than or somewhere between 10 days. The basic idea is to deploy updates that are released recently.

Step 4.1 – Download Office 365 Updates

In some organizations you will find both x64 and x86 versions of Office 365 client deployed. If you have got only Office 365 x86 client deployed, you can select only x86 client based edition updates and proceed. In this example, I am selecting both x64 and x86 edition Office 365 client update – Semi-Annual channel version 1803 updates. Select the updates, right click and click Download.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCMCreate a new deployment package. Specify name and path to store the updates. Click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Select distribution points that you want to distribute the updates. Click Next on Distribution Point settings page.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Select Download software updates from the internet. Click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

On the progress page you will find the updates being downloaded.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

The Office 365 updates are downloaded. On completion page click Close.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Step 4.2 – Deploy Office 365 Updates

We will now deploy Office 365 updates using SCCM. In the above steps, we got the 2 updates downloaded. So select and right click those updates and click Deploy.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Specify deployment name. Click Browse and select the device collection to which you want to deploy the updates.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Under deployment settings, you can either choose to deploy updates as required or make it available to client machines. Choose the option based on your requirement. Click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Schedule the deployment appropriately and click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Click Next.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

On completion page, click Close.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

On one of the client machine, i got this software center notification.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

The Office client update is installing. Nice to see that.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

I would also want to show you that the build number changes once the update is installed. The current Office 365 client build number is 9126.2275.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Notice that build number is now 9126.2282.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

You can also get the Office 365 client version right from Office 365 client management dashboard.

Deploy Office 365 Updates Using SCCM

Still Need Help?

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Prajwal Desai

Prajwal Desai is a technology expert and 10 time Dual Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) with a focus on Microsoft Intune, SCCM, Windows 365, Enterprise Mobility, and Windows. He is a renowned author, speaker, & community leader, known for sharing his expertise & knowledge through his blog, YouTube, conferences, webinars etc.