Posts on Is ConfigMgr Dead?

Configuration Manager 2609 Release

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0400

A new build of Configuration Manager is out: version 2609 (site version 5.00.9152.1000).

Type: Current branch update, released to the early update ring on September 28, 2026. You opt in with the EnableEarlyUpdateRing2609 script until it goes generally available.
What’s in it: Security hardening and fixes rather than shiny new features. SQL Server 2016 is no longer supported (SQL 2017 CU2+ is the new minimum), the site database no longer needs TRUSTWORTHY for ConfigMgr’s SQLCLR assemblies, and CMG scale sets move to new VM sizes.

Release notes:

WDS Is Being Deprecated. Microsoft's Advice? Use Configuration Manager.

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Microsoft announced that Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is deprecated starting with the next Windows Server release. It keeps working on Windows Server 2025 and earlier under their normal lifecycles, but active development is done and the role is headed for removal.

So what does Microsoft tell you to use instead?

Not Autopilot. Not Intune. Microsoft Configuration Manager, which the notice describes as a better, more flexible and more feature-rich way to deploy Windows images.

ODBC Driver 18.7.1.1 Breaks Site Server SQL Connectivity

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Here’s a fun one. When an update to the Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server (18.7.1.1) lands on a site server, Configuration Manager can lose its connection to the site database.

What it looks like

sitecomp.exe crashes (exception c0000005), with COM+ errors (Event ID 4786) referencing msodbcsql18.dll in the Application log.
SMSEXEC.log fills with repeated failures to connect to SQL, and hman.log threads go quiet.

Why it happens

According to a Microsoft response in the thread, ConfigMgr ships its own older Visual C++ runtime in its install folder, and the new ODBC driver doesn’t get along with it. Updating the system-wide VC++ redistributable alone may not fix it.

Configuration Manager 2409 Release

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:45:00 -0500

While this is a bit of an older message, Configuration Manager 2409 has been released as a new build.

This build from Configuration Manager now has some security SQL changes, and some CMG updates.

This post is largely a test to validate the build process now works as intended.

Danny Guillory and crew 2023-04-25

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 10:45:00 -0500

ConfigMgr is definitely not going away. We are still invested in Configuration Manager. – Danny Guillory, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft | Microsoft Tech Community | Twitter | LinkedIn | Ignite

We are fully invested in Configuration Manager still. We have hundreds of millions of devices we are managing. We are obviously heavily investing in Intune as well. – Lance Crandall, Principal Program Manager Lead on the Microsoft Intune team | Microsoft Tech Community

The full conversation can be watched at Unpacking Endpoint Management: the “easy buttons” for endpoint management | Microsoft Tech Community (and Youtube)

Steve Thomas and crew 2022-07-21

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:37:09 -0500

We release ConfigMgr three times a year and with each release there is at least a page of features. If you’re seeing feature dumps every four months it’s safe to say that the product is not on the path deprecation. – Steve Thomas

The full conversation can be watched at AMA: Cloud-based device management with cloud attach - Tech Community Live | Endpoint Manager (and Youtube)

We used to put up at our conferences we put up big banners that say SCCM is not dead and then we started putting up big banners and say Configuration Manager is not dead and yet we still continually get … from our customers all the time “when do I have to go to Intune because I know Configuration Manager is on a path to deprecation”, can you please, I don’t want to say for once and for all because we’re going to continually drive this home, can you like just verify the fact that Configuration Manager is not dead and we still continue to develop for it. – Joe Lurie, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft | Microsoft Tech Community | Twitter | LinkedIn

Danny Guillory 2022-06-22

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 10:15:00 -0500

Some customers even believe that ConfigMgr is dead… I’ll say it for probably the millionth time, Configuration Manager itself is not dead… We [Microsoft] just want to help you [customers] do better and simplify with cloud… we have tons of investment going into the on-premise state… we are not taking down ConfigMgr.

– Danny Guillory (Twitter | LinkedIn | Ignite), Senior Product Manager at Microsoft

ConfigMgr, Game Changer

Tue, 03 May 2022 17:42:00 -0600

I started with ConfigMgr in 2012 and it has changed my entire career path, and personal life. I had no idea that starting to use this tool also meant I was joining the most amazing community of professionals. The friends I’ve made and the skills I’ve learned because of this tool have been no small part of shaping the last decade of my life.

Thank you Microsoft Configuration Manager team and the community that makes this tool really great.

Steve Dispensa 2022-04-07

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:38:00 -0600

ConfigMgr is the largest deployed management solution in the known universe… is core to our ability to deliver a complete solution… we have no plans to end of life ConfigMgr. We love ConfigMgr. We just increased our development capacity on ConfigMgr. It’s nothing but a bright future for ConfigMgr. video

Aria Carley 2022-04-07

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0600

ConfigMgr is not only not dead, but coming soon it will be able to… video

Brad Anderson 2019-10-04

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 22:33:12 -0400

i’ve been asked a couple times today if Microsoft Endpoint Manager means the death of #ConfigMgr —
honestly, the truth is really simple: MEM means ConfigMgr has eternal life!#MSIgnite pic.twitter.com/AeMp5eGxa7
— Brad Anderson (@Anderson) November 4, 2019

Brad Anderson 2020-03-03

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 22:33:12 -0400

This video is something I’ve asked everyone in my org to watch. It was intended to be internal-only, but I can’t resist sharing it.

You can read more about why I think this is so important here: https://t.co/3jvzumi8EA pic.twitter.com/dd5IuoxcNt
— Brad Anderson (@Anderson) March 3, 2020