Control Windows 8.1 and WS2012 R2 "Update 1" and followings through WSUS?

Question

Hello all,
Is there a way of identifying and stop through WSUS the new Updates (Update 1, Update 2 and followings) released for Windows 8.1 and WS 2012 R2?: http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/04/02/windows-8-1-update-important-refinements-to-the-windows-experience/
As far as i know, the are identified as: "Update for Windows", so its impossible to know these are a set of updates similar to a "small" service pack if you don't check the KB number associated.
Due to my environment specs, I only make available Critical and Security updates through WSUS, so clients do not install set of updates such as service packs, which will jeopardize the environment.
These kind of updates are not classified within Updates, Update rollups or anything else, so is there a way of stopping them or at least make them more visible on WSUS (if this makes sense)?
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Interesting question.... and I'm seeing a whole litany of problems with the above.
First the answer: You simply don't approve the updates. As for identifying the updates, yeah, it's done by KB number. It will take a nominal amount of effort on your part. It's also identified by a uniquely formatted title:
Windows 8.1 Update (KB2919355)
BUT.. since the update was originally released into theSecurity Updates classification six months ago, if you're automatically approving Security Updates, then it's already long gone and already installed.
Second.... not installing "Update 1" is not a choice. It's a
mandatory update. If you've not installed this update (hard to see how that could have happened), then you've not actually deployed any to those systems since June if you've blocked this update ... the cutoff date for deploying "Update 1".
"Update 2" is not a mandatory update, and being as the cited blog is dated April, 2014, it doesn't cover that update at all. This update was released in August 2014, and is identified only as KB2975719 and has the title
Update for Windows 8.1 (KB2975719). It was published into Critical Updates a month ago, so again, if you're automatically approving Critical Updates.. it's long gone and already installed.
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCSA, MCITP:EA, MCDBA
SolarWinds Head Geek
Microsoft MVP - Software Packaging, Deployment & Servicing (2005-2014)
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