W2k server SP3 : test?

i was reading though some other Q&A’s and someone had trouble with SP3. Someone said keep up to date with installing SP’s and Critical updates ..”after you’ve tested them” . My Q is:

How am i s’posed to “test” them. We only have one server, it runs W2K server, I cant test it on that, if i crash it, the whole DP dept is stuffed, and i’m likely to get shot?

I checked out MS Technotes on some warnings i’m getting on the server and it advised me to installed SP3. But i cant afford to loose the server?

Catch 22 ????

Gernotlg@hotmail.com