5 Reasons N‑able N‑central Patch Management is Best in Class

Whether you work for an MSP or you are an IT Professional, patch management is a critical aspect of modern IT infrastructure, particularly in today’s complex, interconnected world. With the ever-increasing number of cyber threats and vulnerabilities, it is essential to keep your software up-to-date to help minimize the risk of security breaches.

With all the options out there, it can sometime be challenging knowing what to look for in a patch management solution. During my years here at N‑able, I’d say I’ve spoken on the subject of patch management with prospects and partners more than any other subject. N‑able N‑central Patch Management is a leading patching solution, so in this blog, I thought I’d highlight just five of the reasons why it is best in class:

1. Automatically updates SSUs
2. Detects the last three cumulative updates
3. Staggers reboots until the end of the install cycle
4. Supports out of band patches
5. Enables offline patching

Let’s dive deeper into what these mean in practice.

1. Automatically Update Servicing Stack (SSU)

A servicing stack update (SSU) is a critical update that must be installed before any other software updates can be applied. An SSU updates the components that install and manage updates, ensuring that the latest updates can be installed correctly. N‑able N‑central Patch Management automatically updates SSUs, so you don’t have to worry about manually installing them. N‑central installs SSUs first before anything else to give the best possible chance for the other updates to install. SSUs are also critical in ensuring the Windows Update Agent (WUA) can detect the right patches. This saves time and ensures that your software updates can be applied without any issues.

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2. Detect Last Three Cumulative Updates

Cumulative Updates are a type of software update that contains all previously released updates. For example, a cumulative update for Windows might contain all security and feature updates released since the last major update. N‑able N‑central Patch Management automatically detects the last three cumulative updates for Windows, so you can be sure that your systems are up-to-date with the latest security and feature updates. Microsoft only offers the latest version, but we know some of our partners cannot install patches within a month. By offering the last three versions, N‑central ensures you always have a Cumulative Update available based on your restrictions/setup. This feature saves time and helps ensure that your systems are protected against the latest threats.

3. Stagger Reboots Until End of Install Cycle

Software updates often require a system reboot to complete installation. However, rebooting systems during the installation cycle can cause disruption and downtime. N‑central Patch Management staggers reboots until the end of the install cycle, minimizing disruption and ensuring that all updates are installed correctly. This feature is particularly useful for critical systems that must remain online at all times.

4. Out of Band Patches

Out of band patches are software updates that are released outside of the normal patch cycle.  These updates are typically released to address critical vulnerabilities or zero-day exploits. N‑able N‑central Patch Management automatically detects out of band patches and can apply them once they are approved, ensuring that your systems are protected against the latest threats. This feature is essential for organizations that require the highest level of security.

5. Offline Patching

Offline patching is the process of applying software updates to systems that are not connected to the internet. This is particularly useful for restricted or disconnected systems that cannot receive updates through traditional methods. N‑central supports offline patching, so you can keep all of your systems up-to-date, regardless of their connection status.

In conclusion, these five features save time, minimize disruption, ensure that systems are up-to-date with the latest security and feature updates, and protect against the latest threats. If you’re looking for a comprehensive patch management solution, N‑able N‑central Patch Management is an excellent choice.

If you want to dive deeper into N‑central patch management, in particular its patch monitoring capabilities, then check out this blog: N‑central Patch Monitoring Best Practices and Recommendations.

Meanwhile, if you have questions join me on the N‑central office hours at www.n-able.com/events. For more insight on how you can get the most out of N‑central, you can attend our N‑central Boot Camps. If you cannot attend live, recordings are available in N‑able U, alternatively keep an eye on www.n-able.com/events to register for the live sessions.

Paul Kelly is the Head Nerd at N‑able. You can follow him on Twitter at @HeadNerdPaul, LinkedIn and Reddit at u/Paul _Kelly. Alternatively you can email me direct.