What is Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) used for?

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is a Microsoft tool primarily used for automating and managing the distribution of updates and patches for Microsoft products across a network. By employing WSUS, organizations can control and streamline the process of deploying updates to operating systems and applications, ensuring that all systems within the organization are kept up to date with the latest security patches, feature updates, and bug fixes.

Using WSUS can help reduce the bandwidth used for downloads, as updates can be downloaded once to the WSUS server and then distributed to multiple client machines, rather than each machine downloading its own copy from the internet. This is what makes it a vital tool for internal update processes, allowing IT administrators to have better control over the timing and management of updates, and minimizing the risk of inconsistent patch levels across devices within the organization.

The other options, while related to various IT functions, do not accurately describe the primary role of WSUS. The management of cloud services, installation of hardware drivers, and tracking network performance fall outside the scope of what WSUS is designed to do.