Microsoft Tests $1.50 Fee for No-Reboot Security Updates with New Hotpatching Feature.

It appears that Microsoft is introducing a form of dynamic pricing for a specific feature: no-reboot security updates (hotpatching) for on-premises Windows Server 2025 users.

Variable Cost Based on a Specific Feature: While regular security updates that require a reboot will likely remain free (as they always have been), this new “hotpatch” feature, which offers the added convenience of no reboots, will come at a cost. This introduces a variable based on the type of security update and the benefit it provides (reduced downtime).

Pricing Tied to Resource Consumption: The cost is explicitly stated as $1.50 per CPU core per month. This ties the price directly to the amount of computing resources (CPU cores) being used on the server. As the number of CPU cores increases, the cost increases, making it a dynamic element based on the server’s configuration.

Tiered Access to Features: By charging for the no-reboot functionality, Microsoft is essentially creating a tiered system for accessing security updates. All users get essential security fixes, but those willing to pay extra get a premium feature that minimizes disruption.

This does not appear to be based on real time market conditions but rather a move towards their cloud based dynamic pricing already offered in many azure products. It remains to be seen what other pricing models Microsoft will come up with or if they will expand/increase the pricing of the updates. The feature goes into effect July 1, 2025.