MANAGED IT
How often should business software and systems be updated?
Security patches for operating systems and internet-facing software should generally be applied promptly, while broader feature updates can follow a more measured, tested schedule. A managed patching process removes the need to decide this manually for every device.
Security patches versus feature updates
Security patches address known vulnerabilities and are generally worth applying promptly. Larger feature updates carry more risk of unexpected change and are often better tested before a wider rollout.
What should be kept up to date
- Operating systems on workstations and servers
- Business applications, particularly anything internet-facing
- Network equipment firmware, such as routers and access points
- Antivirus and endpoint security definitions
- Third-party plugins and browser extensions in regular use
Why an ad hoc approach falls short
Leaving updates to individual staff or an occasional manual check tends to produce inconsistent results across a business, with some devices falling well behind without anyone noticing.
A practical next step
A managed patching process applies updates on a defined schedule, tracks which devices are behind, and separates urgent security patches from lower-priority feature updates.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions.
Can updates be applied automatically without disrupting work?
Yes, with sensible scheduling, such as applying updates outside business hours and restarting devices at a planned time rather than mid-task.
Is it risky to update software immediately when a patch is released?
Occasionally an update introduces its own issue, which is why many managed processes stage updates briefly before wider rollout, rather than either ignoring or rushing every release.