After almost an year Microsoft released new cu for exchange 2019 and exchange 2016. the update includes the latest SUs including the updates released in the March 2022 SUs.
As published on The Exchange Team (https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/exchange-team-blog/released-2022-h1-cumulative-updates-for-exchange-server/ba-p/3285026) the most update are :
Servicing Model Changes
Microsoft announcing changes to there update delivery model for Exchange Server. Microsoft are moving to a release cadence of two CUs per year – releasing in H1 and H2 of each calendar year, with general target release dates of March and September. Microsoft Say that because they release dates are driven by quality, so they might release updates in April or October, or some other month, depending on what we’re delivering.
The next CU will be released in H2 of 2022, and it will be for Exchange Server 2019 only; mainstream support has ended for Exchange Server 2013 and Exchange Server 2016. Microsoft will release SUs as needed while those versions are in extended support.
A CU release every 6 months might be too long to wait for some updates, so we may also release hotfixes between CU releases.
With these service model changes, being current still means running the latest CU or the one immediately preceding it (N or N-1), but the ‘currency window’ is now extended from 6 months to 1 year.
Exchange Management Tools Update
Until today, organizations that have all their mailboxes in Exchange Online and use Active Directory (AD) for identity management must have a running Exchange server in their environment in order to perform recipient management activities.
Exchange Server 2019 CU12 includes an updated Exchange Management Tools role designed to address the specific customer scenario where an Exchange server is run only because of recipient management requirements.
The updated Management Tools role eliminates the need to have a running Exchange server for recipient management in this scenario. If you have only a single Exchange server that you use only for recipient management, you can install the updated tools on a domain-joined workstation, shut down your last Exchange server, and manage recipients using Windows PowerShell. For more information, see Manage recipients in Exchange Server 2019 Hybrid environments.
Hybrid Experience Updates
There are two more exciting updates for hybrid customers in Exchange Server 2019 CU12.
- CU12 includes a change to the Exchange Server License Terms. Microsoft have updated the licensing to add a product key for Exchange 2019 hybrid servers at no additional charge! This was previously available only for Exchange 2010, Exchange 2013, and Exchange 2016. Exchange Server 2019 CU12 and the Hybrid Configuration wizard have been updated to support this change.
- CU12 also includes support for using MFA-enabled admin credentials with Hybrid Agent cmdlets. The Hybrid Management PowerShell module now works with MFA-enabled admin accounts. This module includes the following cmdlets which can now be used with MFA:
| Cmdlet | Description |
| Get-HybridAgent | View installed Hybrid Agents |
| Update-HybridApplication | Edit parameters of a Hybrid Application |
| Get-HybridApplication | View all Hybrid Applications |
| Remove-HybridApplication | Remove a Hybrid Application |
Support for Windows Server 2022
CU12 also introduces support for running Exchange Server 2019 on Windows Server 2022 and in environments that use Windows Server 2022 Active Directory servers.
Support for Exchange Server and Windows Server 2022 is detailed below and documented in the Exchange Server supportability matrix along with details on other Exchange Server operating system support.
| Exchange Server Version | Windows Server 2022 OS | Windows Server 2022 AD Servers |
| Exchange Server 2019 | Supported | Supported |
Support for TLS 1.3
By default, Windows Server 2022 uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3, the latest version of the Internet’s most deployed security protocol. TLS 1.3 encrypts data to provide a secure communication channel between two endpoints. It eliminates obsolete cryptographic algorithms, enhances security over older versions, and aims to encrypt as much of the handshake as possible. Support for TLS 1.3 will be added to Exchange Server 2019 in 2023.
Release Details
The KB articles that describe the fixes in each release and product downloads are as follows:
- Exchange Server 2019 Cumulative Update 12 (KB5011156), VLSC Download, Download
- Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 23 (KB5011155), Download, UM Lang Packs
NOTE: Customers in Exchange hybrid deployments and those using Exchange Online Archiving with an on-premises Exchange deployment are required to deploy the latest CU for product support.
SHMUEL H.