By N‑able
July 28th, 2026 3 min read
Patch Management Patching that’s as reliable as it is simple
N‑central’s patch management delivers flexibility and peace of mind, with AI assistance that surfaces the devices and patches that need attention most.
Not all patching solutions get the job done right.
Trust the engine that keeps over 8 million endpoints secure and resilient.
Patch anywhere, anytime
Deploy patches to devices on or off the network with cloud-based remote patching.
Patch all Microsoft applications no matter the update
Patch every Microsoft update class and severity, including OOB patches.
N-zo AI Assistant: Patch Expert
Ask which devices need patching most, and get an answer in seconds.
Patch more than Microsoft
Patch 100s of supported apps, which are in-house tested and verified for install success.
Passive patching with automated approvals
Fully automated and configurable approval with delay range and countdown.
Keep your Windows current
Quickly upgrade Windows 10 to 11 with feature enablement packages that deploy in minutes.
Offline patching for closed networks
Build patch lists for devices to use on closed networks or without internet connection.
Wake and patch support
Uses both Wake-on-LAN and Windows Power Management to wake both isolated and network devices.
Personalize your server patching process
Identify devices based on class and create different patching processes for servers that meet your needs.
Shrink bandwidth draws. Streamline bulky updates
Enable patch caching for a smoother experience across networks.
Patch Linux and Mac devices with clarity and control
Detect, prioritize, and deploy Linux and Mac patches on a flexible schedule
View and report patch status
Scan for status of patches and create views to see progress or report to clients.
A patch engine that thinks before it acts, to maximize efficiency.
Do more, day one
Do more, day one
Microsoft, third-party, and out-of-band patching with no script writing or extra tools.
Approve your way
Approve your way
Approve by patch, device, CVSS, or any data point, with built-in superseding patch management.
Controllable reboots
Controllable reboots
Reboot when it makes the most sense, and stop wasting time waiting for multiple runs.
Discover how N‑central delivers powerful, secure patching
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Windows / Microsoft Patch Management
Learn more about N‑able patch management for Microsoft and Windows.
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Automated Patch Management
Automate your patch management operations and approval processes with N‑able Patch Management.
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Server Patch Management
Patch servers differently and avoid down time due to lack of policies
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Cloud-Based Patch Management
Remotely configure and deploy patches from a cloud-based patch management solution
We’ve seen an overall patch success rate of 99%. This speaks volumes about the value we are getting from N‑central
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Frequently asked questions
Is there an additional cost for patch management?
Is there an additional cost for patch management?
No. Patch management—including third-party patching—is included as part of N‑central’s base functionality.
What are some patch management best practices?
What are some patch management best practices?
- Take a complete inventory of your customer’s infrastructure to make sure no software has been forgotten.
- Leverage automated patch management whenever possible and develop patch management policies to establish procedural standards for patching.
- Standardize configuration, hardware, and operating systems whenever possible to speed up patch management.
- Prioritize your patches and deploy the most critical ones first.
- Fully read the documentation on patches before deploying—this can help you determine whether or not a potential patch will help or harm your customer’s system.
- Deploy patches during off-peak hours so updates will not disturb your customer’s day-to-day operations.
- Document everything that happens before, during, and after the patching process for compliance and reporting purposes.
Can I control what software is installed during patch management?
Can I control what software is installed during patch management?
Yes. N‑central lets you optimize patch management by detecting software inventory and creating automation polices to remove unwanted software or install new software to right-size your application footprint.
Can I patch on a closed network?
Can I patch on a closed network?
Yes. N‑central lets you automatically create patch caches that can be stored and vetted before being automatically delivered to and deployed on the closed network.
How do I wake devices for patch management?
How do I wake devices for patch management?
N‑central maximizes the number of devices that you can patch by letting you use either Wake-on-LAN or Windows Power Management to wake devices for patching.
Does N‑central use AI to prioritize patches?
Does N‑central use AI to prioritize patches?
Yes. N-zo, the embedded AI assistant, ranks missing patches by real-world exploitability, so you can approve the highest-risk updates first instead of working through lists manually.
What third-party apps do you patch?
What third-party apps do you patch?
You can find a list of N‑central’s growing library of third-party applications supported for patching here: https://documentation.n-able.com/N‑central/userguide/Content/Patch-Management/PatchManagement_3Party_Patch_List.htm
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You can’t build success with patching that holds you back.
Now’s the time to move ahead.