Microsoft® SQL Server 2012 Unleashed

Installing Service Packs and Cumulative Updates

After the GA release of a product, Microsoft will occasionally release updates to the product as either service packs or cumulative updates. It is highly recommended that you apply SQL Server services packs when they become available because they often contain critical fixes to the product and sometimes new or enhanced features. You should especially consider applying the latest services pack for when performing a new SQL Server installation. As of this writing, SQL Server 2012 Service Pack 1 is available.

Cumulative updates provide one or more hotfixes that are released to the public on a scheduled delivery basis. Each cumulative update release contains all the hotfixes and security fixes that ...