RE: Windows patch mgmt.

["Daszczyszak, Roman L. SPC (1AD 501 MI BN ACE IMO)" <roman.daszczyszak () 1ADTACM 1AD ARMY MIL>]

Bob,
        You could point specific 'testing' servers to update their patches
from a MS SUS (Software Update Services) server, then test the patches by
pushing them out via SUS.  Checking to make sure they installed correctly,
use MBSA (Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer) it can do groups of
machines.. so you could target the testing servers, observe their behavior
and decide whether to push the patch out to everyone.

Best of all, both tools are free.

HTH,
Roman

SUS download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A7AA96E4-6E41-4F54-
972C-AE66A4E4BF6C&displaylang=en

MBSA download:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx

> -----Original Message-----
> From: bob martin [mailto:bobmartin_613 () hotmail com]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 10:41 AM
> To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> 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. Bernard'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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to facilitate one-on-one interaction with one of our expert instructors.
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