Many Windows users are already familiar with Patch Tuesday to a certain extent. The average user may understand the frequency of Microsoft updates, and the expectation to install the new patches to their servers, but perhaps they lack knowledge regarding why and how these updates are important and what happens if you don’t install the updates. Here is what you need to know about Windows Patch Tuesday.
What Is Patch Tuesday?
Patch Tuesday is virtually exactly what its name implies. Microsoft releases new updates in the form of patches once monthly–usually on the second Tuesday of each month–hence the name Patch Tuesday. Sent across all servers and affecting all Microsoft products, often Patch Tuesday offers essential updates that address any software security vulnerabilities, ensuring that both personal and business Microsoft users are provided with the best possible security on their server.
Why The Updates Are Important
While some updates are absolutely crucial to software security and development and others are more minute, we recommend that you look over and install any patch Tuesday updates to ensure you’re working on the most secure server possible. Microsoft is usually very comprehensive and helpful with their updates, meaning the average user is usually able to comprehend these updates and their importance.
While choosing to not install these updates may not have any immediate consequences (legal or performance-based), it’s usually in your best interest to install them as they’re released to ensure the safety of your server and everyone who uses it.
Downloading & Installing a Patch on Patch Tuesday
For a single user, Windows Update is the easiest way to download and install patches.
Windows Update works with most systems to automate downloading and installing any available Windows software updates over the internet.
Businesses and enterprises on the other hand, can use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) or Endpoint Manager: Configuration Manager (previously known as SCCM) created for large deployments of computers, or 3rd party applications like PDQ Deploy, WSUS Offline Update, etc. If you have a WSUS deployment for disconnected networks, you can use WSUS or the Microsoft Update Catalog website which allows you to download the updates and then install the updates even without an internet connection.
How WAM Can Help
If you’re a WSUS administrator at an enterprise or business and can’t find the time to maintain the WSUS services on your own, causing your server to run slow and to lose valuable storage space. WAM allows you to take back control of your WSUS instance (or SUP/DP instances in an SCCM environment) and frees up time for other priorities. WAM works to accomplish several important administrative tasks to keep your server running smoothly:
- Runs a database maintenance routine
- Removes declined updates from the database
- Cleans up the synchronization logs with the upstream system/Microsoft
- Renames OS descriptions to make it easier to identify systems
- Cleans up computer objects
- Compresses update revisions
- Declines multiple types of updates including superseded, beta, expired, and Itanium by default
- Cleans up the bulk of drivers that are old and unused
- Backs up the database
Spend your time on more important tasks, and allow WAM to take over the rest!
Easily purchase WAM online and save time on WSUS maintenance.
At AJ Tek, our vision is to make IT simple and automated for other IT professionals. Our flagship product is WAM, WSUS Automated Maintenance. This system performs all of the tasks that a WSUS Administrator needs to do to maintain WSUS properly only leaving the approving of updates and reporting to the WSUS Administrator.
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