Software Updates

Software Updates This feature of Configuration Manager has to be one of our favorites. Using this feature, you can manage the daunting task of deploying updates to Microsoft applications and operating systems Not only does this apply to Microsoft security patches andupdates, but having this flexible and extensible environment has allowed partners (such as HP, Dell, IBM, Citrix, and others) to create custom catalogs to update server and desktop BIOS, firmware, and drivers as well as to create internal catalogs. This enables customers to create their own line-of-business application update catalogs and update them through the same
streamlined process as Microsoft uses for patch management.

Deploying updates requires a Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) server. Configuration Manager leverages WSUS with its own functionality and provides a higher level of granularity than is available with WSUS alone. Software updates are an important phase in the Incident Management process and IT Operations Management function of ITIL and the Operate Phase in MOF. We will cover software updates in more detail in “Software Updates.”