December 2025 Windows Updates: Secure Boot, Hardware Accelerated BitLocker, NVMe Path

December’s Windows updates closed the year with a steady stream of practical improvements for enterprise administrators, security teams, and endpoint managers — from a major Secure Boot readiness campaign to storage and encryption upgrades that promise measurable performance and security gains on modern hardware.

Background​

December is often quieter for feature rollouts, but the Windows engineering teams used the month to publish several operationally important updates and guidance documents. The calendar items administrators need on their radar are unambiguous: prepare for Secure Boot certificate expirations in June 2026, evaluate and adopt the new hardware-accelerated BitLocker where hardware permits, use the new Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) report in Windows Autopatch to increase patching precision, and consider Windows 365 multi-region selection to improve resiliency and data sovereignty. At the same time, Windows Server 2025 shipped an opt‑in native NVMe path and will start using its own KBIDs from January 2026 — changes that affect how updates and storage optimizations are planned and validated.
This feature guide collates the December announcements, verifies the technical claims against vendor documentation and independent reporting, examines the operational benefits and risks, and provides a practical checklist for IT teams to act on before mid‑2026.

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Overview of December 2025 improvements​

• New Windows Autopatch CVE report in Microsoft Intune for device‑level vulnerability tracking and prioritization.
• Microsoft Intune Suite capabilities coming into Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 (administrators should watch admin center notifications for rollout timing).
• Windows 365: multi‑region selection rolling out to increase regional resiliency, flexibility, and support data sovereignty.
• Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker: BitLocker can offload crypto to SoC/CPU crypto engines and use hardware‑wrapped keys on supported platforms.
• Microsoft Entra ID authentication via Web Account Manager (WAM) can now use WebView2 (Chromium) beginning with recent cumulative updates, replacing EdgeHTML WebView in the auth path.
• Secure Boot playbook: tools and registry/GPO/WinCS guidance to proactively deploy the 2023 Secure Boot CAs before 2011 CA expirations in June 2026.
• Multimedia call redirection for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 now supports Genesys Cloud and Five9 CCaaS platforms.
• Windows Server 2025: opt‑in native NVMe support for a direct NVMe I/O path; Windows Server 2025 will begin receiving its own separate KBIDs starting with January 2026 security updates.

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Secure Boot: prepare now for the June 2026 certificate expirations​

What changed and why it matters​

Secure Boot relies on firmware‑level certificate authorities (CAs) to validate boot components. Some legacy Microsoft CA entries issued in 2011 begin expiring in June 2026. Microsoft published a detailed Secure Boot playbook that gives administrators the tools and procedures to update certificate databases (KEK/DB/DBX) and the Windows boot manager so devices continue to boot and remain protected.
The playbook outlines multiple deployment paths:

• Allow Microsoft to update “high‑confidence” devices automatically via Windows Update,
• Use Group Policy or registry keys to force deployment for managed devices,
• Use the Windows Configuration System (WinCS) CLI and PowerShell tools for domain‑joined clients,
• A forthcoming MDM Configuration Service Provider (CSP) for Intune and other MDM platforms.

Key configuration items to know now:

• Registry location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecureBoot (and the Servicing subkey).
• The AvailableUpdates value bitmask (set to 0x5944) triggers application of the entire certificate update set.
• The WinCS feature key for domain deployments: F33E0C8E002.
• Deployment state tracking: the UEFICA2023Status registry value changes from Not started → In progress → Updated.
• Event log indicators: Event ID 1808 indicates success; Event ID 1801 and 1795 point to problems.

Strengths​

• The playbook provides multiple supported deployment paths (registry, GPO, WinCS) that fit small pilots to large enterprise rollouts.
• Microsoft is delivering the replacement 2023 certificates via servicing for many devices and coordinating with OEMs for firmware updates.
• Diagnostic and event log hooks let administrators monitor progress and automate remediation workflows.

Risks and caveats​

• Devices with older or nonstandard firmware (legacy OEMs, niche hardware) may need vendor firmware updates first to accept new CAs.
• Incorrect or mixed deployment methods on the same device can complicate recovery; the playbook explicitly warns against mixing approaches.
• Some enterprise imaging or recovery tooling may behave differently after certificate changes; test thoroughly in pilot rings.
• The timeline is tight: certificates begin expiring June 2026. Start inventories and pilots now.

Action checklist — Secure Boot (high priority)​

• Inventory devices for Secure Boot and certificate status. Check UEFICA2023Status and use supplied PowerShell/WinCS commands for sampling.
• Apply or request OEM firmware updates for devices that the playbook flags as needing updates before certificate application.
• Decide on a deployment method: Microsoft-managed rollout, Group Policy, WinCS, or registry keys. Pilot on a representative sample first.
• Monitor Event Viewer (System) for Event IDs 1808, 1801, and 1795 during pilots.
• Bookmark and track the Secure Boot playbook and AMA recordings for new guidance and tools.

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Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker: performance and security on modern NVMe platforms​

What Microsoft released​

Microsoft announced hardware‑accelerated BitLocker, enabling BitLocker to offload bulk cryptographic operations to dedicated crypto engines on modern system‑on‑chip (SoC) platforms and to keep bulk encryption keys hardware‑wrapped. The OS-level plumbing was added during the 2025 servicing cycle and manifests in Windows 11 24H2 cumulative updates and Windows 11 25H2 builds.
Key behaviors:

• When the platform (SoC + firmware + drivers) supports crypto offload and hardware‑wrapped keys, BitLocker will use XTS‑AES‑256 and show the Encryption Method as “Hardware accelerated.”
• The feature reduces CPU cycles for encryption, improving I/O throughput and battery life on supported devices.
• Administrators can verify status using manage-bde -status and by inspecting the Encryption Method output.

Performance claims and verification​

Microsoft’s engineering tests and vendor documentation show substantial gains for NVMe workloads:

• Lab tests indicate on average ~70% savings in CPU cycles compared with software BitLocker in the tested scenarios.
• Storage metrics (sequential and random reads/writes) can approach the performance of unencrypted NVMe for many common workloads.

These figures come from vendor and Microsoft lab microbenchmarks; real‑world results will vary based on SoC implementation, NVMe controller generation, firmware, and drivers.

Strengths​

• Hardware protection of keys reduces attack surface area by preventing plaintext DEKs from ever appearing in main memory when the SoC wraps and uses keys within a protected domain.
• Significant CPU offload on NVMe drives reduces the encryption‑related performance penalty for I/O‑intensive activities.
• The change supports both automatic device encryption and managed BitLocker enablement workflows while aligning with modern SoC capabilities.

Risks and operational constraints​

• Hardware dependence: only devices with compatible SoC crypto engines and vendor drivers will realize benefits; older systems fall back to software BitLocker.
• Policy and algorithm constraints: certain enterprise policies (FIPS mode, unsupported algorithms) or explicitly chosen key sizes/algorithms may prevent hardware offload.
• Driver/firmware coordination is necessary. OEMs and SoC vendors must expose the capability correctly; administrators should coordinate with suppliers.
• Early rollouts may expose vendor-specific bugs or recovery tooling incompatibilities; validate before wide adoption.

Practical guidance​

• Check devices with: manage-bde -status. Look for “Hardware accelerated” under Encryption Method.
• Validate boot-time and recovery behaviors in a lab environment after enabling hardware-accelerated BitLocker.
• If scripts or enterprise policies set algorithm or key choices, review them to ensure compatibility with hardware offload (the platform may auto‑upgrade some key sizes for new enablements, but administrators should not rely solely on this behavior).

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Windows Autopatch CVE reporting: add precision to vulnerability response​

What’s new​

Windows Autopatch now includes a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) report inside the Microsoft Intune admin center. The report consolidates Windows CVEs fixed in recent quality updates (the announcement references the prior 90‑day window), shows severity and exploitation status, and — crucially — lists device‑level details for devices that are still missing the update.
Key capabilities:

• Filtering and searching by CVE ID, severity, and release.
• Device‑level drill‑downs to see which endpoints still need the patch and their OS versions.
• Direct links to KB articles (release notes) for each fix.
• Export capability for offline analysis and reporting.

Strengths​

• Reduces the gap between a published CVE and visibility into which endpoints remain vulnerable.
• Empowers security operations to prioritize updates by risk and exposure rather than blanket patching.
• Integrates with Windows Autopatch processes and Intune automation to speed remediation.

Operational notes and cautions​

• The report is designed as an operational dashboard — not a replacement for formal vulnerability management workflows — and should be integrated into patch orchestration processes.
• Administrators should confirm report latency and synchronization windows against their own telemetry; default latency is short (near‑real‑time in the published guidance) but may vary with tenant and service conditions.
• For tightly regulated environments, use the device list and KB links to create validation and audit trails.

Action checklist — Autopatch CVE reporting​

• Locate the report: Microsoft Intune admin center → Reports → Windows Autopatch → Windows quality updates → Reports tab → Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) report.
• Configure alerts or custom queries for high‑severity or actively exploited CVEs.
• Use device drill‑downs to target expedited updates via Autopatch, Intune, or Microsoft Graph as appropriate.
• Export report data for integration with SIEMs or vulnerability tracking systems.

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Microsoft Entra ID authentication: WAM + WebView2​

The change​

Microsoft Entra ID app sign‑ins via the Windows Web Account Manager (WAM) can now be powered by WebView2 (the Chromium‑based web control) starting with specified cumulative updates. EdgeHTML WebView is being deprecated and WebView2 is expected to become the default in an upcoming Windows release.

Benefits​

• Modern web standards, improved security posture, and consistent rendering across authentication flows.
• Easier handling of modern identity pages and compatibility with providers expecting standard Chromium behaviors.

Considerations​

• Organizations should verify proxy and traffic inspection rules, as embedded browser behavior can change network flows or require updated allowlists.
• Testing is required for SSO and federation scenarios, especially for third‑party identity providers or legacy federation stacks that previously relied on EdgeHTML behaviors.

Recommended steps​

• Identify applications that use WAM for Microsoft Entra sign‑in.
• Test WAM + WebView2 behavior in a controlled environment and update proxy rules and sign‑in service logic if necessary.
• Plan for the eventual default switch from EdgeHTML to WebView2.

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Windows 365: multi‑region selection and resiliency updates​

What changed​

Windows 365 introduced a three‑tier region selection model — Geography, Region Group, and Region — and the Multi‑Region Selection capability is rolling out. Microsoft also reorganized geographies to contain more regions while reducing the number of top‑level geographies to simplify selection and improve resiliency.

Why it matters​

• Multi‑region selection allows Cloud PC estates to be distributed across multiple regions in a geography or region group, reducing blast radius during a region outage.
• Region groups help meet data sovereignty needs by defining region groupings that typically align to a single country or defined boundary.
• The service offers intelligent cross‑region distribution and snapshot distribution across regions for recovery scenarios.

Operational implications​

• New provisioning policies default to selecting all regions in a chosen geography or region group. Administrators who need strict regional control should explicitly choose specific region groups or regions.
• The Cloud PC Region column or Microsoft Graph’s ListCloudPCs API can show provisioning locations for inventory and reporting.
• Snapshot distribution and intelligent cross‑region distribution apply only when using Microsoft Hosted Network (MHN) as the network type.

Action checklist — Windows 365 resiliency​

• Review Cloud PC provisioning policies and consider switching to Geography or Region Group selections for improved resiliency.
• Validate network topology and compliance needs; region group selection can help satisfy country‑level data residency.
• Update runbooks to account for cross‑region distribution and snapshot recovery procedures.

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Virtualization: multimedia call redirection for Genesys Cloud and Five9​

What it does​

Multimedia call redirection for Azure Virtual Desktop and Windows 365 optimizes WebRTC-based audio by directing audio streams to the endpoint device rather than routing them through session hosts. December expanded supported CCaaS providers to include Genesys Cloud and Five9.

Benefits​

• Improved call quality and lower latency for contact center agents in virtual environments.
• Reduced session‑host CPU and network load; a “like‑local” calling experience for agents.
• Better resource efficiency in scaling virtual contact center deployments.

Deployment notes​

• Ensure session hosts use the required multimedia call redirection host version and that browsers on session hosts are current.
• Validate agent workflows and device compatibility in pilot deployments, especially for headset integrations and call recording compliance.

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Windows Server 2025: own KBIDs and native NVMe opt‑in​

KBIDs separation​

Starting with the January 2026 security update, Windows Server 2025 will have its own KBIDs separate from Windows 11 (24H2/25H2). This is an administrative clarity improvement — installers and patch management flows remain the same, but administrators should adjust patch labeling and reporting processes to reflect distinct server KBIDs.

Native NVMe opt‑in​

Windows Server 2025 includes an opt‑in native NVMe I/O path that removes legacy SCSI translation for NVMe devices. Microsoft’s microbenchmarks show large gains in specific synthetic tests (up to ~80% higher IOPS and ~45% fewer CPU cycles per I/O in cited lab cases). The feature is disabled by default and requires enabling after installing the relevant cumulative update.
How to enable (administrative flow):

• Install the servicing update that delivers the native NVMe components.
• Enable the Feature Management override registry policy (Microsoft provides a documented registry example) or use the supplied Group Policy/MSI to toggle the feature.
• Reboot and verify NVMe device presentation in Device Manager (devices should appear under “Storage disks” and use the in‑box NVMe driver).

Strengths​

• Potentially dramatic performance uplifts for I/O‑bound workloads (SQL OLTP, Hyper‑V, AI/ML scratch tiers).
• Better CPU efficiency frees compute cycles for application workloads in dense server environments.

Risks and validation​

• Native NVMe changes device enumeration and driver pathways; third‑party vendor utilities, backup/imaging tools, or driver‑dependent software may require updates.
• The opt‑in design acknowledges compatibility risk and allows staged adoption.
• Thorough testing with vendor drivers, backup systems, and recovery tooling is mandatory before enabling in production.

Action checklist — Native NVMe​

• Stage enablement in test and pre‑production environments that mirror production hardware and software.
• Confirm in‑box NVMe driver usage (StorNVMe.sys) and that vendor drivers will not block the new path.
• Measure with DiskSpd and application-level workloads to quantify real benefit versus risk.
• Plan rollback paths: record registry changes and have a recovery plan to revert to the SCSI path if needed.

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Lifecycle and policy reminders​

• Review lifecycle documentation for deprecated features and elements removed or no longer developed starting with Windows Server 2025.
• Track the Secure Boot CA expiration timeline (June 2026) and set milestones for inventory, pilot, and production rollout.
• Update operational runbooks for the new KBID scheme for Windows Server 2025 and align patch reporting dashboards.

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Recommended timeline and prioritized checklist (90‑day plan)​

• Week 0–2: Inventory & discovery
• Secure Boot status (UEFICA2023Status) report across fleet.
• Identify devices that lack firmware-level updates and produce OEM vendor lists.
• List devices capable of hardware-accelerated BitLocker (new SoC models) and those using vendor NVMe drivers.
• Week 2–4: Pilot & testing
• Pilot Secure Boot certificate deployment on a representative subset.
• Test hardware‑accelerated BitLocker on targeted SoC platforms; verify manage-bde -status output and I/O metrics.
• Enable Entra WAM + WebView2 in pilot apps and validate auth flows.
• Create a native NVMe testbed and reproduce DiskSpd microbenchmarks; validate backup and imaging tools.
• Week 4–8: Policy & automation
• Prepare Group Policy/WinCS/registry artifacts for Secure Boot rollouts.
• Document BitLocker policy adjustments for enterprise encryption algorithms and key sizes.
• Integrate Windows Autopatch CVE report workflows into SOC runbooks; set filters and alerting.
• Week 8–12: Production rollout & monitoring
• Stagger production Secure Boot updates with OEM firmware as needed.
• Monitor for Event IDs (Secure Boot) and manage Autopatch report‑driven remediation.
• Enable native NVMe only after controlled validation and monitor system/agent tooling for anomalies.
• Ongoing:
• Keep an eye on Microsoft admin center notifications for Intune/Intune Suite and Copilot+ PC skilling resources.
• Rehearse rollback and recovery procedures after any major storage or firmware change.

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Risks, mitigations, and final analysis​

• Rapid hardware and firmware dependencies make modern platform features both powerful and brittle. Mitigation: staged pilots, clear rollback plans, and vendor coordination.
• Automated user experiences (Secure Boot automated deployment) reduce admin effort but can mask edge cases. Mitigation: maintain small pilots focused on older or niche hardware.
• Performance claims (70% CPU savings for BitLocker; up to 80% IOPS for native NVMe) are drawn from vendor labs and microbenchmarks. These are reliable indicators of potential, but not guarantees. Mitigation: test realistic application workloads and capture baseline metrics before toggling features.
• Policy mismatches (FIPS, non‑supported algorithms, custom BitLocker scripts) can block hardware acceleration. Mitigation: audit and harmonize encryption policies before enabling hardware offload.

Overall, December’s updates focus squarely on operational clarity, performance for modern hardware, and better visibility for security teams. The Secure Boot playbook and Autopatch CVE report address immediate security posture gaps; hardware-accelerated BitLocker and native NVMe are platform investments that will pay off where the ecosystem (SoC, firmware, drivers, and management tooling) aligns. Administrators who start inventorying, piloting, and validating now will avoid the rush and risk as certificate expirations and broader adoption timelines approach.

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Quick reference — commands and keys administrators will use​

• Check BitLocker status:
• Open elevated command prompt or PowerShell.
• Run: manage-bde -status
• Look for “Encryption Method” and “Hardware accelerated” indication.
• Secure Boot registry paths and toggles:
• Base path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecureBoot
• AvailableUpdates bitmask to deploy full set: set to 0x5944
• WinCS feature key for domain deployments: F33E0C8E002
• Monitor UEFICA2023Status and UEFICA2023Error registry values.
• Native NVMe opt‑in (server opt-in example — validate before use in production):
• Apply servicing update that ships native NVMe (server servicing wave).
• Example registry command (administrator context):
  reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Policies\Microsoft\FeatureManagement\Overrides /v 1176759950 /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
• Reboot and verify Device Manager device appearance under “Storage disks.”
• CVE report: Microsoft Intune admin center → Reports → Windows Autopatch → Windows quality updates → Reports → Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) report.

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Conclusion​

December 2025’s Windows improvements are distinctly operational: they prioritize resiliency, security, and extracting the performance offered by contemporary hardware. The Secure Boot playbook and the Autopatch CVE report close tangible operational gaps that will reduce risk if teams act on them quickly. The hardware advances — hardware‑accelerated BitLocker and native NVMe — promise substantial performance and security benefits where supported, but require coordinated testing and vendor engagement.
Start with inventory and small, well‑instrumented pilots. Use the new telemetry hooks and reports to build confidence before wide deployment. With the Secure Boot certificate deadline looming in June 2026, now is the moment to plan, test, and execute: the changes baked into the December guidance will make that path measurable and manageable for teams that prepare deliberately.

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Source: Microsoft - Message Center Windows news you can use: December 2025 - Windows IT Pro Blog

 

[ChatGPT]

Windows Weekly 965 distilled a chaotic week in PC tech into a sharp, pragmatic briefing: Paul Thurrott and his cohosts threaded CES highlights, Microsoft’s high‑stakes engineering pivot toward Rust, stealth platform changes like hardware‑accelerated BitLocker, fresh Windows Insider previews and Copilot updates, and a sweeping set of gaming and hardware notes that together sketch where Windows users and IT teams should focus in 2026.

Background​

Windows Weekly has long been the pulse check for Microsoft’s sprawling ecosystem—mixing product launches, corporate strategy, and nitty‑gritty operational implications. This episode leaned hard into themes that will matter for the next five years: memory‑safe languages and automated refactoring, the operational reality of hardware‑gated platform features, the accelerating influence of generative AI in both product and engineering workflows, and the downstream pressures these create on supply chains and OEMs.
The program’s arc in this episode moves from headline‑grabbing ambition (a Microsoft engineering charter to replace legacy C/C++ with Rust) to quietly delivered platform changes (hardware‑accelerated BitLocker shipping in late 2025), then into tactical guidance for admins and consumers: how to prepare for hardware requirements, how to approach new Copilot behavior, and what gamers should expect from early 2026 Game Pass additions.

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Microsoft and Rust: Ambition vs. Reality​

What was announced (and what it means)​

Paul highlighted a widely reported internal engineering charter that set an explicit target to eliminate Microsoft’s C and C++ codebase by 2030 using advanced program analysis and AI‑assisted refactoring—an audacious, company‑scale modernization program. The headline metric that spread across social feeds—“one engineer, one month, one million lines”—was presented as a North Star for throughput, not a literal operational guarantee.
The job posting and related commentary described a blended approach: deterministic compiler‑style analysis, automated translation tools, large language models for scaffolding and code suggestion, and a heavy emphasis on verification artifacts and staged deployments. Practically, that means Microsoft intends to build an “infrastructure for code processing” to accelerate migrations where it makes sense—primarily to mitigate long‑standing memory‑safety vulnerabilities endemic to C/C++.

The clarifications and limits​

After an early wave of sensational headlines—some of which suggested Microsoft would simply “rewrite Windows in Rust overnight”—the distinguished engineer who publicized the charter and Microsoft itself issued clarifications: this work is research and tooling first, with an immediate focus on critical Azure and cloud‑side components before any mass kernel rewrite. The company framed this as a long‑term modernization program, not an untested, unsupervised wholesale rewrite of the Windows kernel.
This clarification matters for several reasons. Windows is not a single monolithic binary; it is a massive ecosystem of drivers, firmware interactions, third‑party ABI dependencies, and hardware OEM contracts. Rewriting pieces of that in Rust introduces operational complexity—ABI stability, driver compatibility, kernel contracts, and the risk of subtle behavioral regressions. The public caveat from Microsoft shifted expectations from an immediate panic (drivers and OEMs will be left in the cold) to a multi‑year, instrumented modernization effort with staged verification.

Strengths of the approach​

• Memory safety: Rust’s ownership and borrowing model eliminates large classes of buffer overflows and use‑after‑free vulnerabilities without garbage collection pauses—an ideal property for low‑latency systems code.
• Modern tooling: Combining compiler analysis with AI agents promises a faster path to converting boilerplate and well‑structured modules while allowing humans to focus on semantics and verification.
• Security posture: Reducing memory‑safety bugs should lower patch volume and emergency hotfixes that historically drive many Windows security advisories.

Risks and engineering friction​

• ABI and driver compatibility: Even carefully translated modules must present identical ABI and timing properties to avoid breaking third‑party drivers and firmware assumptions.
• Verification burden: Automated translation can produce syntactically correct Rust that subtly changes memory layout, alignment, or concurrency timing—risks that require exhaustive testing and proof artifacts.
• Operational disruption: Large changes in core components necessitate staged rollout, feature gating, and a mature rollback story—areas where Microsoft has improved but where scale amplifies risk.
• Cultural & tooling gap: Rust proficiency at systems scale is still scarce; hiring and training must accelerate in parallel with tooling or the program risks bottlenecks.

In short: the ambition is real and strategically sensible from a security perspective, but the operational challenges mean this will be an incremental, verifiable migration—not a theatrical instantaneous rewrite.

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Windows platform changes: Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker and what to watch for​

What shipped quietly​

One of the quieter but materially important notes from the episode: Microsoft released hardware‑accelerated BitLocker in late 2025. This version of full‑disk encryption offloads cryptographic operations to modern CPU features and platform security modules, improving throughput and reducing performance impact—particularly important for high‑I/O workloads and NVMe systems. However, it requires the latest PC CPUs and firmware support to enable the hardware paths.

Why this matters to IT and consumers​

Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker promises encrypted devices without the substantial performance tax that has historically made full‑disk encryption feel sluggish on older hardware. For enterprises, that means encryption can realistically be enabled on a broader class of endpoint devices without harming user experience. For consumers, particularly content creators or gamers, the reduced overhead matters for heavy read/write workloads.
But the shift also introduces operational considerations:

• Hardware dependence: Not all devices will support the new acceleration; procurement and lifecycle planning must reflect this.
• Recovery semantics: Hardware‑wrapped keys and silicon‑bound cryptography change recovery processes—key escrow and device replacement procedures must be updated.
• Imaging and hardware swaps: When keys are bound to silicon, motherboard swaps or major hardware changes require careful decryption planning or risk data loss.

Practical checklist for admins​

• Inventory BitLocker state and OS versions across your fleet using manage‑bde / Get‑BitLockerVolume.
• Verify hardware support: confirm CPU microcode and firmware that advertise hardware encryption capabilities.
• Escrow keys: ensure recovery keys are stored in Entra ID (Azure AD) or your secure key vault before enabling hardware‑accelerated BitLocker.
• Pilot test: deploy to a pilot group with representative workloads and validate imaging/restore and motherboard swap scenarios.
• Update procurement criteria: require OEMs to document hardware‑accelerated BitLocker behavior and recovery flows.

Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker is a net win for security and performance—if organizations plan accordingly.

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Windows Insider, Copilot, and the evolving AI experience​

Insider previews highlighted in the episode​

Windows Insider updates remain the fastest way to see Microsoft’s trajectory. The episode recapped the latest preview cadence (updates as of mid‑December) where Microsoft expanded Copilot Vision editing features and previewed AI agents on the Taskbar—starting with a “Researcher” agent and the underlying Agent Launcher infrastructure. These signals show Microsoft moving from single‑tool assistants toward persistent, task‑focused agents that can take multi‑step actions across apps.

Copilot app behavior and user control​

Paul noted an update to the Copilot app that added text‑editing actions across Copilot Vision channels, a small but important usability improvement. At the same time, Microsoft is experimenting with how agents are surfaced (Taskbar pins, launchers, contextual suggestions), which raises user experience and privacy questions: how much autonomy should agents have, and how transparent will their actions be?

Security and management implications​

• Enterprise control: Admins must gain controls for agent permissions and telemetry; server‑side gating will likely continue to be used for phased rollouts.
• Privacy posture: Agents that act across apps increase the surface area for data access—audit and consent models need to be clear.
• Update cadence: Copilot and agent functionality may be gated on device type and licensing (Copilot+ hardware, etc., so expect staggered availability.

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AI ecosystem: apps, killswitches, and the small‑tech counterplay​

ChatGPT app store and Mozilla’s kill switch​

Windows Weekly flagged two ecosystem developments: ChatGPT now running an app store model for extensions and experiences, and Mozilla adding a planned “killswitch” for AI features in Firefox. These moves reflect diverging industry responses: centralized platforms (app stores) to monetize and control AI extensions, and browser vendors offering user‑level safety controls in response to privacy and content concerns. Both trends will shape how AI features are consumed and regulated.

LG and Copilot on TVs​

A practical consumer win: LG announced that users will be able to remove the Copilot app from certain smart TVs, pushing back against forced AI app inclusion and signaling that consumer demand for choice and privacy remains potent. This is an important UX precedent—system apps should be removable when they collect or surface personalized data by default.

Little AI vs Big Tech​

Paul’s tip of the week—Little AI—is a repeatable strategic idea: small‑scale, locally controlled AI services (on device or in private cloud instances) can preserve privacy and trust while providing targeted automation. For many users and organizations, the tradeoff favors local agents that minimize third‑party data exposure. The Little Tech principle—size plus trust—continues to gain traction as an alternative to funneling everything through large, opaque AI clouds.

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Gaming: Xbox, Game Pass, and platform shifts​

Early 2026 Game Pass and platform expansion​

Windows Weekly covered the first Game Pass drops of 2026 (notable titles called out in the episode included Resident Evil Village and Star Wars Outlaws) and expanding cloud platforms: Xbox Cloud Gaming shipping to Hisense smart TVs and select Fire TV models, illustrating Microsoft’s push into living room streaming. These moves tighten Microsoft’s device reach while also increasing reliance on performant local networks and cloud availability.

GOG, DRM, and Valve’s hardware choices​

• GOG’s continued independence and DRM‑free stance were discussed as counterpoints to increasingly service‑tied ecosystems.
• Valve quietly discontinuing the LCD Steam Deck model is a reminder that hardware SKUs iterate rapidly; buyers should evaluate long‑term support and repairability when choosing handhelds.

For gamers, the main takeaway is platform diversity: streaming gains distribution, physical handhelds continue to evolve, and subscription catalogs keep expanding—each choice affects performance, latency, and ownership.

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RAM shortage and supply constraints: IDC’s warning (context and caution)​

Windows Weekly referenced an IDC analysis warning that a global memory shortage—exacerbated by AI datacenter demand—could slow growth for PCs and smartphones. If true, this has direct implications: higher DRAM/NAND prices, constrained OEM supply, and delayed refresh cycles for enterprise fleets. The episode used this to explain potential hardware procurement stress in 2026.
Readers should note: supply forecasts and pricing are volatile and regional. The claim that AI demand is compressing consumer device supply is plausible and aligns with broader industry reporting, but organizations should verify current contract terms and price projections with their hardware vendors before making procurement decisions. Treat IDC projections as an important signal, not a deterministic outcome.

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Practical guidance: what Windows users and IT teams should do now​

For enterprise IT (prioritized action list)​

• Audit encryption posture and recovery workflows now—hardware‑accelerated BitLocker changes recovery semantics.
• Boost testing around driver compatibility and firmware interactions if you plan to adopt any Rust‑translated components—assume mixed‑language coexistence for the medium term.
• Validate Copilot agent governance: confirm permission models, telemetry collection, and grant policies before enabling agents at scale.
• Lock in procurement terms for DRAM/NAND or model refreshes if your refresh cycle depends on predictable supply and pricing. Treat IDC warnings as an input to negotiation.
• Expand test harnesses: add fuzzing and integration tests for any code paths likely to be translated or wrapped; require provenance artifacts for translated modules.

For consumers and enthusiasts​

• If you rely on full‑disk encryption for performance‑sensitive tasks, prefer modern hardware that supports accelerated BitLocker.
• Try Little AI tools for sensitive tasks to keep private data local and reduce exposure to cloud processing.
• Gamers should consider the tradeoffs between cloud streaming (accessibility) and local hardware (latency/ownership) when evaluating Game Pass and new device integrations.

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Critical analysis: balancing optimism with skepticism​

Notable strengths from the episode’s coverage​

• The emphasis on verification and staged deployment is the right stance for any program that touches OS internals. Microsoft’s public clarifications and hiring signals suggest a methodical approach rather than a reckless rewrite.
• Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker is an example of practical security engineering—the kind of platform improvement that benefits users without requiring a UX tradeoff.
• The episode’s attention to Little AI and user choice (removable Copilot on TVs, browser killswitches) highlights an important counterweight to centralized AI control.

Legitimate concerns and cautionary flags​

• Automated translation at scale is promising but perilous: a flood of syntactically correct code that changes subtle behavior is still a recipe for system‑level regressions unless paired with extremely strong verification and staged rollout plans. The “one million lines” framing is useful for recruitment and motivation, but it must not obscure the verification burden.
• Hardware dependency for platform features (BitLocker) shifts complexity to procurement, imaging, and recovery processes. Some organizations will need to overhaul runbooks to avoid data loss during hardware repairs.
• The agentization of UI (Taskbar agents) raises privacy and governance questions that enterprise admins are not yet fully prepared to answer—consent models, audit trails, and least‑privilege controls must arrive before widescale deployment.

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The longer arc: what to expect in 2026 and beyond​

• Coexistence, not eradication: C and C++ will coexist with Rust for many years, bridged by ABI shims and careful interop. Expect hybrid stacks and gradual migration of high‑value, security‑sensitive subsystems first.
• Tooling and verification will be the bottleneck: investments in deterministic analyzers, unit and integration testing, and audit trails will determine success. Organizations should demand provenance artifacts for any auto‑translated module.
• Hardware gating accelerates premium features: Microsoft’s approach of gating features on newer silicon (Copilot+ hardware, hardware‑accelerated BitLocker) will continue, driving a two‑tier device market where capability and experience are increasingly hardware‑dependent.
• AI governance emerges as the defining policy conversation: browser killswitches, removable system apps, and on‑device AI alternatives will become common governance controls as organizations chase both innovation and trust.

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Conclusion​

Windows Weekly 965 painted a pragmatic, sometimes sobering picture: Microsoft’s technical ambitions (Rust migration at scale) pair with real, immediate platform changes (hardware‑accelerated BitLocker and Copilot agent previews). The blend of long‑range engineering work and near‑term operational shifts matters for everyone—from device purchasers and gamers to enterprise IT managers. The right posture is cautious optimism: embrace the security benefits Rust and hardware crypto promise, but demand proof, staged rollouts, and robust recovery procedures. Expect more experimentation in 2026, and prepare now—because the next wave of platform modernization will be measured in verifiable artifacts, not slogans.

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Source: Thurrott.com Windows Weekly 965: Almost Meat