Microsoft Connected Cache is now generally available for Enterprise and Education organizations, offering a flexible, bandwidth-saving caching solution. It accelerates Windows updates, Intune provisioning, and Teams content delivery by caching requested content locally across Windows and Linux platforms, reducing internet bandwidth use.
Microsoft Connected Cache: Now Generally Available for Enterprises and Education
Microsoft has officially launched Connected Cache for Enterprise and Education customers as of July 23, 2025. This new solution is designed to drastically reduce bandwidth consumption during Windows updates and app deployments. After a successful preview phase, Microsoft refined Connected Cache into a production-ready tool that’s now accessible to organizations with eligible Windows Enterprise and Education licenses.
What’s New with Connected Cache?
Connected Cache is a flexible caching solution that works across multiple platforms. It supports Windows Server, Windows Desktop, and popular Linux distros like Ubuntu and Red Hat Enterprise Linux. This means IT teams can deploy cache nodes on their existing infrastructure without costly hardware changes.
One key update is the introduction of a Windows installer for deploying cache nodes on Windows hosts. This command-line tool simplifies installation and updates, paving the way for future enhancements like improved observability and troubleshooting.
Major Updates: HTTPS Support and Expanded Content Caching
Microsoft Connected Cache now supports both HTTP and HTTPS protocols. This is crucial as more Microsoft services, including Intune and Teams, move toward secure HTTPS content delivery. For the first time, Connected Cache can cache Teams content, expanding its utility beyond just Windows updates.
To enable HTTPS caching, IT admins must deploy a certificate to the cache nodes. Microsoft provides detailed documentation to guide this setup, ensuring seamless and secure content delivery.
Bandwidth Savings with Delivery Optimization
Connected Cache works hand-in-hand with Delivery Optimization, Microsoft’s peer-to-peer update technology. While Delivery Optimization manages bandwidth and throttling, Connected Cache acts as a local content store. This combination means devices fetch updates from a local cache instead of repeatedly hitting the internet, resulting in faster updates and significant bandwidth savings.
“Connected Cache helps organizations realize significant bandwidth savings when performing Windows 11 upgrades and other update deployments.”
“This versatility ensures organizations can take advantage of its features without significant hardware changes or investments.”
Getting Started: Deployment and Management
Eligible organizations can deploy Connected Cache via the Azure Marketplace by creating the “Microsoft Connected Cache for Enterprise and Education” resource. From there, admins can configure and deploy as many cache nodes as needed to fit their network topology.
Importantly, while Azure is required for management, the Connected Cache resource itself does not incur additional Azure costs. This makes it a cost-effective way to optimize bandwidth and speed up updates.
Why It Matters for IT Pros
As cloud-native device management grows, network bandwidth becomes a bottleneck. Connected Cache offers a smart, scalable way to reduce internet traffic while improving update reliability. It’s a must-have for IT teams looking to streamline Windows servicing and application delivery.
In short, Connected Cache is a game-changer for enterprises and education institutions aiming to keep devices secure and productive without breaking the network bank.
Ready to try it? Check out the Microsoft Connected Cache documentation and start optimizing your update delivery today.
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