June 13th, 2006
The Art of Patch Management
By Yan Fortin
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
As you may have already heard, Microsoft has released TWELVE new security bulletins today and has re-released one prior security patch.
If you are a network / system administrator working for an SMB like me, these kinds of events probably tend to make you very nervous, but you don’t have to be, really! There are a couple of solutions on the market to help you pass through these situations like a breeze, and I reviewed my personal favorite, Shavlik HFNetChkPro, right here. If you are involved in the business of patching a large number of computers, I definitely recommend you to have a look at this overview.
The product allows you to automate the scanning of the most widely used platforms and products including Windows NT, XP, 2000, Windows Server 2003, Exchange, SQL Server, Outlook, Microsoft Office, Java Virtual Machine and non-Microsoft product support such as WinZip, Apache, Acrobat Reader, Real player and more. It has an intuitive, drag-n-drop interface and some great reporting features. Some of you will probably tell me that Microsoft has a free alternative to HFNetChkPro, and yes, I know all about it. But this product does so much more then what WUS (Windows Update Service) can do, that after having a look at HFNetChkPro, I knew right away that using WUS wouldn’t satisfy all of my needs, and probably yours too.
Source: [Geeks Are Sexy]
John Corliss says:
Personally, I’m sick and tired of all these “critical” MS updates. Microsoft never really explains to my satisfaction what they do (the description of the problem they deal with has become suspiciously non-informative as well as repetitive) and I’m beginning to suspect that their only purpose is to slow down both the performance and load-times of competing programs. Not only that, but as the release of Vista grows nearer, it may be that some of these updates serve the purpose of making XP less desirable in some obscure way.
Microsoft has recently (again) proven how untrustworthy they are by having their “Windows Genuine Advantage Tool” spy on people. Trust Microsoft that they’re not getting any vital personal info and that their updates are really necessary??
NOT ME!!!
June 14th, 2006 at 5:36 am
Yan says:
Some of them are, as history have shown time and time again (Anyone remember the RPC DCOM Catastrophe?). Can you really afford of NOT patching a 200 users environment? I don’t think so.
June 14th, 2006 at 5:49 am
Another Mike says:
For those of us reading RTN who don’t support many systems, I suggest using AutoPatcher(www.autopatcher.com) for updating windows. No WGA, No install… reboot… install some more… reboot some more, stuff. Installs what you need in one fell swoop.
Just remember to get the Full pack first and then the subsequent updates for each month you need. Makes life so much easier.
June 14th, 2006 at 10:24 am