Shorter Cadence, Smarter Testing: How to Manage Microsoft 365 Updates
Microsoft has reshaped their update cadence for Microsoft 365 applications, and product owners need to adjust their testing and release strategies accordingly.
Key Changes to Update Strategy
Shorter support windows: The Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel now has only eight months of support (down from fourteen), giving IT teams less time to validate and stabilize builds.
More frequent updates: Most interactive, end-user systems are expected to move to the Monthly Enterprise or Current Channels.
Longer rollback: The Monthly Enterprise Channel now provides a two-month rollback option (up from one), creating a small buffer to mitigate risk.
The long runway that enterprises once relied on for regression testing and validation is narrowing. To keep pace without compromising stability, end-user computing and Microsoft 365 product owners should embrace automation and modern release validation practices.
The Solution: Automate, Validate, and Stay Confident
Login Enterprise can help IT teams build confidence and preserve end-user experience through:
- Automated regression testing: Application testing can simulate end-user workflows across Microsoft 365 applications, including macros or complex VBScript in Excel.
- Continuous validation: Supports integration with CI/CD pipelines via API, enabling frequent, repeatable tests.
- Actionable insights: Detailed reporting and customized alerting helps IT identify broken workflows and prioritize fixes.
Examples: Excel Testing at Scale
The screenshot below shows Microsoft Excel and an example spreadsheet with custom VBScript buttons. This is a simplified setup I’ve seen many times working with leading Hedge Fund and Private Equity organizations.
Login Enterprise automates quality assurance cycles for Excel, capturing runtime metrics for each test case and generating reports suitable for Change Advisory Board review.
The Takeaway: Agility Requires Automation
- Testing timelines are shrinking due to accelerated Microsoft 365 cadence
- Agility requires automation as core end-user computing strategy
- Clear data-driven reporting bridges gaps between IT and stakeholders for informed risk decisions