Security Basics: Re: Windows patch mgmt.

["steve" <securityfocus () delahunty com>]

I believe that PatchLink tests in their own environment prior to pushing out
patches, Microsoft or otherwise.  A product/vendor you might consider.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bob martin" <bobmartin_613 () hotmail com>
To: <security-basics () securityfocus com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 10:40 AM
Subject: Windows patch mgmt.


Hello all.
Basic patching question for you.

We have a small environment (approx. 300 desktops and 50 servers) and the
question has come up how do we test all desktops/servers after a windows
patch has been installed.  Given that the networking/desktop team consists
of 6 people, I'm a bit stumped on how we can do this efficiently.  We use
St. Benard's Update Expert to push out the patches and to verify they've
been installed.

Currently we push to a QA environment and let it soak for a week or two
while it's being used for it's normal functions.  The concern is if the
server isn't being used for testing, then we may push a patch to a
production server without it being "tested."

Any suggestions would be very welcomed.  Any more, there's so many windows
patches that it's almost a full time job for one person to manage them.

Thanks.
Bob

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