LTSC is the gold standard for mission-critical environments. Unlike the Semi-Annual Channel (SAC), which is now retired, LTSC offers:
Key note: The December 2024 update (DecEM) does NOT add new features. It enhances security and fixes bugs within the LTSC framework. windows server 2022 ltsc 21h2 x64 english decem updated
The December update brought the "Network Protection" feature in Block mode for Server 2022, preventing employees on RDSH (Remote Desktop Session Host) from accessing malicious IPs without modifying firewall rules. LTSC is the gold standard for mission-critical environments
Microsoft promises fixes in the January 2025 preview update (optional) and the February 2025 Patch Tuesday (mandatory). Key note: The December 2024 update (DecEM) does
Previously, TLS 1.3 was available but required registry configuration. The December cumulative update made it configurable via Schannel and enabled it for IIS and RDS by default (if the client supports it).
SMB1 had been deprecated since 2014, but some stub components remained. The December update removed the SMB1-Client star function entirely. Any attempt to reinstall it is blocked by Defender.