Step-by-Step Guide: Patch management must-do list

Patching is a necessary evil in the Windows world. It's typically one of the lowest-priority tasks on an administrator's to-do list, yet it must be done or else Windows systems are left vulnerable to potential exploits.

You may choose a patch management tool to get the job done, but that in itself can provide you with a false sense of security: Whether it's free or commercial, no tool is perfect.

For these reasons, you must have the right patching processes in place. In this step-by-step guide, Brien Posey outlines several must-dos to help you ensure the correct patches are applied in a timely manner.


Patch management must-dos

 Home: Introduction
 Step 1: Do understand what is being patched
 Step 2: Do review patches every day
 Step 3: Do make sure patches are actually being applied
 Step 4: Do it yourself when necessary
 Resource kit: Tips for testing, deploying and fixing patches

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Brien M. Posey, MCSE, MVP
Brien M. Posey is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with Windows 2000 Server and IIS. He has served as CIO for a nationwide chain of hospitals and was once in charge of IT security for Fort Knox. As a freelance technical writer, he has written for Microsoft, TechTarget, CNET, ZDNet, MSD2D, Relevant Technologies and other technology companies.
Copyright 2005 TechTarget

This was first published in May 2005

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