Master patch management of Windows systems with these best practices

This chapter from the Windows Security Resource Kit offers as an in-depth guide on patch management in a Windows environment.

While firewalls, antivirus, and spyware protection get much of the attention in discussions of enterprise security, patch management remains a paramount - although less glamorous and more thorny - part of the equation.

This sample chapter from the Windows Security Resource Kit serves as an in-depth guide for IT professionals that handle patch management in a network environment. The chapter explains the various types of patches that Microsoft releases for Windows, offers details on how security updates are developed, proposes a six-step process for managing patches, and offers some additional tips to help along the way.



Title: Microsoft Windows Security Resource Kit
ISBN: 0735618682
Published: March 2003
Authors: Ben Smith and Brian Komar
Chapter: Chapter 26: Patch Management
Publisher: Microsoft Press

One thing this chapter doesn't cover is Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), which was released in June 2005.