# Build separate Intune approval rings for drivers and firmware > Intune driver update policies can discover, approve, pause, and report applicable Windows drivers and firmware. Use hardware-model pilots and dated approvals, while update rings continue to govern restart and user experience. - Canonical URL: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/intune-driver-firmware-approval-rings/ - Publisher: Detection Systems & Engineering (DSE Security) - Author: DSE Security Editorial Team - Published: 2026-08-11T09:09:00+00:00 - Modified: 2026-08-11T14:12:11+00:00 - Last reviewed by DSE: 2026-08-11 - Resource type: Playbook - DSE priority: Advisory - Topics: Business Continuity, IT - Reading time: 3 minutes ## What you need to know Intune driver update policies can discover, approve, pause, and report applicable Windows drivers and firmware. Use hardware-model pilots and dated approvals, while update rings continue to govern restart and user experience. ## Potentially affected Intune-managed Microsoft Entra joined and hybrid-joined Windows devices; Windows Autopatch; Windows Update; OEM drivers and firmware; laptops, desktops, docks, displays, audio, network adapters, storage, graphics, and BIOS or UEFI components. ## DSE recommendation Create representative hardware groups, use manual approval for controlled pilots, test complete peripheral and restart workflows, advance only with measured evidence, and reconcile applicable, approved, installed, paused, failed, and superseded updates. ## Article ## Source facts: driver approval and restart behavior are different policy layers Microsoft’s [Intune driver-update documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/device-updates/windows/manage-driver-updates) says Windows driver update policies provide a dedicated place to review, approve, and deploy applicable driver and firmware updates. Manufacturers publish the updates, Windows Update evaluates hardware applicability, Windows Autopatch coordinates approved deployment, and Intune presents policy and reporting information. Administrators can use automatic or manual approval workflows. Automatic approval reduces routine review, while manual approval lets an administrator choose an available driver and an availability date. The driver policy works alongside feature, quality, and update-ring policies rather than replacing them. Microsoft explicitly notes that client-side behavior—including restart and user-notification experience—continues to be governed by standard Windows Update settings. The current prerequisites include Intune management, supported Windows Pro, Pro Education, Enterprise, or Education editions, Microsoft Entra join or hybrid join, required connectivity to Microsoft endpoints, required diagnostic data for reporting, and the applicable licensing. Microsoft’s page says Windows Enterprise LTSC is not supported by this driver-policy type and directs administrators to update-ring policy behavior instead. The Microsoft Account Sign-In Assistant service must also be enabled and running for the documented architecture. Reporting is part of the control loop, but an approval is not proof of installation on every targeted device. Applicability varies by model and configuration, devices must scan and check in, and the device still follows Windows Update behavior for the actual installation. ## DSE recommendation: stage by hardware family and operational consequence Keep driver and firmware approvals distinct from the generic operating-system rollout record. Build inventory groups that represent exact model, hardware revision where available, dock, graphics, storage, network, audio, camera, biometric, power, and BIOS or UEFI combinations. A single “IT pilot” group made of one premium laptop model cannot represent the production estate. - Discover and classify. For each offered update, record manufacturer, component, version, applicable device population, current versions, release context, known dependencies, expected restart, and the operational function it can affect. - Approve a small technical ring. Use resilient IT devices that match the target hardware. Confirm installation and recovery access, then exercise sleep, resume, restart, shutdown, charging, docking, display, wired and wireless networking, audio, camera, Bluetooth, storage, and any role-specific peripheral. - Advance to a representative business pilot. Include remote and office devices, different network conditions, commonly used docks and monitors, accessibility devices, specialized peripherals, and users who can report reproducible symptoms. - Observe before broad release. Define a minimum observation period and measurable exit criteria: installation success, restart completion, device health, hardware error rate, support contacts, performance change, and representative workflow success. - Coordinate the user experience. Review the update-ring restart, active-hours, deadline, and notification settings that will govern approved updates. Communicate when firmware may create a longer or visually different restart sequence. - Handle exceptions by version and model. Record devices on which an update is not applicable, not offered, paused, failed, superseded, or deliberately held. Give each hold an owner, evidence, and review date. Before a BIOS or firmware deployment, verify the manufacturer’s prerequisites, power requirements, disk-encryption behavior, supported rollback or recovery options, and physical or remote support path. Do not assume that a normal driver uninstall process applies to firmware. Preserve critical user data through the organization’s approved protection method and ensure the device will remain on stable power. After broad release, compare Intune reporting with real device inventory and help-desk trends. Sample devices from each major model, confirm installed versions locally where needed, and correlate failures with component and firmware combinations. Review policy ownership, role access, diagnostic-data availability, Microsoft endpoint reachability, and Windows Update policy conflicts when reporting is incomplete. The desired result is controlled hardware maintenance: Microsoft selects only applicable content, DSE chooses when approved content can progress, the user experience is predictable, and every held or failed device remains visible until disposition. ## Official references - Microsoft Learn, [Manage Windows driver updates](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/device-updates/windows/manage-driver-updates), January 14, 2026. - Microsoft Learn, [Configure Windows driver update policies](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/device-updates/windows/driver-updates-policy). ## Primary reference - Name: Microsoft Learn: Manage Windows driver updates - Authority: Microsoft Learn - URL: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/intune/device-updates/windows/manage-driver-updates - Source publication date: 2026-01-14 ## Citation and use Preferred citation: “Build separate Intune approval rings for drivers and firmware,” DSE Security, https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/intune-driver-firmware-approval-rings/ Publishing principles: https://update.dsesecurity.com/updates/dse-updates-editorial-methodology/ Usage and citation policy: https://update.dsesecurity.com/usage/ Copyright © 2026 Detection Systems & Engineering. 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