Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Long-Term Support Releases
 
To enhance the McAfee DLP release process to better serve our customers’ requirements, we define each release as either a Long-Term Support (LTS) release or Feature release.

The LTS release allows customers to maintain a stable DLP version without changes to functionality and new features. For example, customers under tight change control. The LTS release includes security updates, bug fixes, and some optimization for the existing features released through updates. Hotfixes are released only on LTS versions as deemed necessary by McAfee. These releases continue to be fully installable packages.
 
The Feature release (major or minor) version contains new features and major changes. This option allows early adopter customers to deploy new features on release. 

LTS release lifecycle
 
The LTS delivery starts with the 11.4 release (November 2019) and runs for one year before End of Life (EOL). Before EOL, defects for all severities are addressed as determined by McAfee. After EOL, customers have another year before End of Support (EOS). During this final year of support, only severity one (1) defects and high-priority security vulnerabilities are addressed.

Likely adopters for LTS versions
 
Customers who want to stay on a stable version with minimal changes must deploy LTS releases. If no bug fixes are needed for the deployed release, customers need to upgrade only once every 12–18 months to keep within the two-year support window. Customers can switch from an LTS release to a later Feature release if they want to deploy a new feature urgently. If it is less urgent, they can wait for that feature to appear in the next LTS release.

LTS releases do not include:

• Support for new Windows 10 or macOS versions that release after the LTS release.
• New third-party supported applications. For example, Microsoft Office or browsers updates that are released after the LTS release.
• Product ideas for new features.

Feature release versions

New features, which include customer-raised product ideas are added only to the Feature release version. 

There can be more than one Feature release per year. For example, the first Feature release after the 11.4 LTS version released in November 2019 was version 11.5, which released in May 2020.

A new release (either LTS version of Feature Release) immediately replaces any previous Feature Release without any EOL or EOS period. Support continues to provide assistance on earlier Feature Releases. If a customer requires a bug fix, it is addressed on in the latest available version (either LTS or Feature Release).

Feature releases include major and minor releases and updates. Hotfixes are released only on Feature release versions as deemed necessary by McAfee.

All bug fixes released as part of the LTS release are merged into the Feature release versions.

Likely adopters for Feature release versions

Customers who want to get new features as soon as possible in addition to bug fixes must deploy Feature release versions. If a customer wants to move from a Feature release to an LTS release, they must move to an LTS release that is newer than their current Feature release. If not, new features in the Feature release will be missing from the earlier LTS release.

Comparison: LTS vs Feature release
 

Release Type	Frequency	Advantages	Disadvantages
Long-Term Support (LTS) Release	One per year including new features. Subsequent updates are restricted to bug fixes only.	Supported for 12–18 months. Highest level of stability because there are no new features.	LTS adopters must wait a year to receive new features in the next LTS release.
Feature Release	Potentially more than one per year. Each release contains new features.	Most rapid access to new features.	Shorter support duration because each Feature release is replaced with the next Feature release or LTS release.

Example release timelines