Windows 10 shops are supposed to be able to use Windows Update for Business to keep devices current with the latest releases and features, but details about WUB are missing and availability questions still loom.

In May 2015, Microsoft introduced Windows Update for Business (WUB), a new cloud-based service that was slated to provide update support for Windows 10. Microsoft said WUB would be there to help business users keep devices up to date with more flexibility than is offered through the consumer-focused Windows Update.

Windows 10 launched in July 2015, but Microsoft has yet to provide specifics about what WUB is, how it will work and when it will be available. The lack of concrete information from Microsoft has spurred questions and speculation about WUB's true nature and what might be in store for business customers. Here's what we do know about Windows Update for Business:

Distribution "rings" will let admins specify which devices get updated first, and WUB will have maintenance windows so admins can decide when updates should occur. WUB will also have peer-to-peer delivery to support devices with limited bandwidth, such as those in branch offices or at remote sites. And it will integrate with existing tools, such as System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) and the Enterprise Mobility Suite.

Unfortunately, Microsoft has provided few specifics beyond these and has offered nothing to explain exactly what WUB is, providing only general bullet points for what it's supposed to do.

We can perhaps glean more useful information from a Microsoft Virtual Academy course, called "Preparing Your Enterprise for Windows 10 as a Service." One section of the course, "Staying Current with Windows as a Service," offers the most relevant information. As the course and section titles suggest, the key appears to be in understanding Microsoft's Windows as a service (WaaS) delivery model. In this case, WaaS just means that starting with Windows 10, Microsoft plans to deliver feature updates more frequently -- although that's not the traditional definition of WaaS. The company will aim for two to three new updates per year.