MiServer: Managed Windows: Windows Updates on Managed Systems

Background

Servers subscribed to the Managed OS Windows service will automatically receive security updates for operating system components on a regular basis, no actions are required on your part to receive these updates.

Which Updates are Installed on my Managed Windows Server?

The MiServer service will apply these monthly rollup bundles to managed Windows servers:

• Security monthly quality rollup
  • This rollup bundle includes security and quality updates for the operating system and supported versions of Internet Explorer
• .NET Framework monthly rollup
  • This rollup bundle includes security updates for supported versions of the .NET framework

Which Updates are Not Applied?

Updates to products not covered by the Microsoft core OS and .NET Framework rollup bundles above will not be applied to manged servers (examples include updates for Adode Reader, Firefox, Java, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Visual Studio, etc.). These types of applications need to be kept at current versions and security patched by customers.

Are Included Components of the OS ever Upgraded?

As Microsoft products approach their end of support lifecycle the MiServer team will work with customers to identify options to continue running with only fully supported software versions. Once these components reach end of life status Microsoft stops providing security updates for them and they may become vulnerable to exploits. Examples of previous EOL products include aged versions of Internet Explorer and .NET frameworks, as well as older versions of the OS itself.

Manually Checking for updates from Microsoft

The MiServer Managed Windows monthly patching process only applies updates as noted above. To check for the latest patches for any additional Microsoft software on your MiServer, you will need to use the Windows Update utility and select the option to "Check online for updates from Windows update."

1. Click the start menu icon and enter Update to search the system for the "check for updates" option. Select Check for updates when the option appears.

2. When the Check for updates dialog opens, select Check online for updates from Windows update.