New servicing branch: Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) of Configuration Manager

Yesterday a new announcement has been done. There is a new servicing branch called: Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) of Configuration Manager. Where ConfigMgr Current Branch offers new functionality and support for Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, LTSB of Configuration Manager is not. When Software Assurance (SA) or equivalent subscription rights became expired, customers, per product terms, would have to move back to ConfigMgr 2012 (R2). Besides of support for an fixed 10-year lifecycle (and equivalent subscription rights as mentioned), I guess there is no need to use the LTSB version of Configuration Manager.

While the LTSB is derived from the current branch of Configuration Manager (version 1606), it is scaled back and reduced in functionality to permit the extended support model. LTSB of Configuration Manager will not receive new functionality or support for new Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. It will continue to receive security updates only. By design, LTSB of Configuration Manager is intended to be fixed in functionality and very infrequently updated, so any features or components that require continuous updating or are tied to a cloud service have been removed. What's left is ConfigMgr 2012 (R2) with less features and no Hybrid MDM.

These removed features include:
-Support for Windows 10 Current Branch (CB) and Current Branch for Business (CBB)
-Support for the future releases of Windows 10 LTSB and Windows Server
-Windows 10 Servicing Dashboard and Servicing Plans
-The ability to add a Microsoft Intune Subscription, which prevents the use of Hybrid MDM and on-premises MDM
-Asset Intelligence
-Cloud-based Distribution Point
-Support for Exchange Online as an Exchange Connector
-Any pre-release features available in the current branch of Configuration Manager

Not my cup of tea :-)
Source: Enterprise Mobility and Security Blog

New Windows 10 LTSB release planned for October 1st!

Last year with the Windows 10 release, a Long-Term Servicing Branch (LTSB) release was offered too. Currently, Windows 10 LTSB is essentially the Windows 10 RTM (1507) release with certain features such as the Edge browser and Windows Store permanently removed. On October 1 however, a new Windows 10 LTSB build will be released, starting another 10-year support window. This build is called Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016.

Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB builds on Windows 10 Pro, version 1607 adding premium features designed to address the needs of large and mid-size organizations (including large academic institutions), such as advanced protection against modern security threats, full flexibility of OS deployment, updating and support options; as well as comprehensive device and app management and control capabilities.

The LTSB edition provides customers with access to the Long-Term Servicing Branch as a deployment option for their mission critical devices and environments. It can be used also when yearly Current Branch updates are not desirable. By contrast, LTSB is only due to receive revisions every two or three years, where two major Windows 10 updates are planned for Current Branch next year. A mix of both LTSB and CB/B may be realistic also, when modern features are not needed on all systems.

LTSB can only be purchased with a volume license agreement or MSDN subscription, but for presentation Microsoft allows you to download a fully functional free 90-day trial.

Sources:
Two major Windows 10 updates planned for next year
Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 will be released on October 1