Windows Update Exception through Windows Firewall
Yes, Go to Windows Firewall (control panel ->security ->firewall) click on advanced settings on the left. Create inbound/outbound rules. Alternatively you may be able to just add windows update as an app or feature (option above advanced settings on the left of the firewall screen).
Here is a link that goes into more detail about how to do it:http://www.howtogeek.com/112564/how-to-create-advanced-firewall-rules-in-the-windows-firewall/
one more thing just for clarity. It varies a little depending on your version of windows, but you probably need to add(in advanced setup):
c:\windows\System32\wuauclt.exe and be sure to add the service of "windows update"
and if that doesnt work try
Process - %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe
Services - Windows Update
and(possibly needed)
Remote ports 80, 443
Process - %SystemRoot%\System32\svchost.exe
Service - BITS
Remote Ports 80, 443