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Read our comprehensive guide on Windows patch management and see how Level can help you automate this process.
Level
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Managing updates across hundreds or thousands of Windows devices is one of the most time-consuming responsibilities for IT teams. Without a structured patching process, systems quickly become vulnerable, unreliable, and difficult to support.
Effective Windows patch management keeps all endpoints up-to-date by regularly applying security patches, bug fixes, and system improvements. This improves stability, compliance, and operational efficiency.
In this guide, we will discuss everything you need to know about the Windows patch management process. We'll cover its definition, importance, challenges, and best practices below.
Windows patch management is the process of keeping Windows operating systems and applications updated by deploying software patches. These updates fix bugs, close security gaps, and keep systems stable.
The patch management process covers desktops, laptops, servers, and virtual machines running Windows systems.
It usually involves using patch management software to handle routine tasks. This ensures accuracy and control, especially in larger environments with hundreds or thousands of endpoints.
Windows updates or patches vary in type. It's important to understand the different categories to help you plan better and reduce risk during patch deployment:
After defining Windows patch management, it's time to focus on why it matters. Here are the reasons why it is important for your IT environment:
Unpatched systems open doors for attackers to exploit critical systems and data. Many security breaches happen because IT teams delay updates or miss them altogether.
Windows patch management can keep systems current and close known vulnerabilities. For example, security patches often fix issues that malware can attack within days of public disclosure.
If you deploy Windows patches quickly and consistently, you reduce the attack surface across your organization. You can protect your network and keep sensitive data confidential.
Windows updates do more than fix security problems. They can also address software bugs, memory leaks, and system crashes.
A well-patched Windows environment runs more smoothly and with fewer unexpected errors. New patches often improve driver compatibility and optimize system resources. Without them, users may experience slowdowns, app failures, or blue screens.
Unplanned outages are expensive and frustrating. A single failed Windows update can take a system offline for hours.
Regular patching keeps things stable and avoids breakdowns caused by known bugs. It helps reduce downtime across the board.
Effective Windows patch management strategies can also roll out updates in a controlled way. This ensures that critical patches are stable and bug-free before full deployment.
If your organization falls under regulations like SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or ISO 27001, patching is not optional. These standards require you to keep Windows systems updated against known risks.
Windows patch management can deploy patches to critical systems and generate detailed reports. These help prove your company's compliance with regulatory requirements.
Meeting compliance prevents penalties and fines. It can also improve trust with customers and stakeholders.
Outdated Windows systems work harder to run newer software. They tend to overheat, slow down, and break more often.
Applying updates helps keep hardware devices in good shape by improving software compatibility and reducing the load on processors and memory.
Systems that run smoothly last longer, which reduces hardware costs over time. This eliminates the need to replace devices as often. It also ensures you get more value out of every managed endpoint.
Even with clear benefits, patching Windows systems isn’t always simple. Here are the common challenges you can expect:
It's difficult to deploy patches across devices connected to remote servers, home networks, and other locations.
Some endpoints may be offline, while others may have limited bandwidth. You can’t assume all systems will update in the same way.
Without centralized and remote control over these endpoints, you may find it overwhelming to track locations and statuses. Systems might end up missing critical updates, which increases the risk of security issues and downtime.
Old Windows systems aren't always compatible with new patches. Legacy apps may crash or become unstable after updates. Some updates might not even be installed properly.
This puts your IT teams in a tough spot—do they leave the system vulnerable or risk breaking it?
Balancing new updates with old software is one of the harder patch management tasks your business may face.
Sometimes Windows patches don’t install correctly. They fail midway, get stuck in reboot loops, or break other services. These issues take time to investigate and fix.
It’s even worse if they go unnoticed. A device may look patched but still be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats.
Small IT teams often juggle many responsibilities. Patching becomes another task in a long list.
There may not be enough hands or time to test, schedule, and monitor every update. This leads to delays or missed patches.
Having a patch management tool can help. But you need to provide thorough training and ensure everyone's on the same page for a smooth adoption.
Many IT teams lack full visibility into which Windows devices are patched, which ones failed, or what’s missing.
Without real-time data, it’s easy to fall behind on important Windows patches. This increases the risk of security gaps and human errors.
Implementing effective patch management strategies can address the challenges above. Here are the best practices for Windows patch management:
Start by defining clear rules for the Windows patch management process. Develop a clear policy that mentions who’s responsible for patching, how often to update, and what systems are included.
This sets expectations for testing, deployment, and rollback procedures. It also ensures everyone's on the same page, which prevents miscommunication and errors.
You can’t patch what you don’t know exists. It's important to create an updated list of all the hardware and software in your environment.
Make sure to include desktops, laptops, servers, virtual machines, and remote devices. You should also track their OS versions, roles, and patch statuses.
A complete asset inventory makes it easier to detect missing patches and avoid coverage gaps. It also supports better testing since you’ll know what systems may react differently.
Not all patches are equal. You should prioritize security updates that are rated “critical” or “important” by Microsoft.
For non-security updates, it's important to assess the risk of waiting. Focus first on Windows systems that handle sensitive data or face the internet.
Your team should meet regularly to review patch notes and assign urgency levels. This keeps your efforts focused and reduces the risk of missing something important.
Never push untested patches to critical Windows systems. Even trusted vendors can release updates that break applications or cause performance issues.
Instead, set up a controlled test group that includes different device types, operating systems, and software combinations.
You should deploy patches in this testing environment first. Then, monitor results for at least 24 to 48 hours.
If issues come up, document them and alert your IT team. Doing so reduces the risk of downtime and operational disruptions.
Real-time insight is the key to staying secure. You can use spreadsheets, asset inventories, or dashboards to track patch status across all Windows devices.
Don't forget to review reports regularly to identify trends or recurring problems. Make sure to share these updates with leadership or compliance teams.
The more often you check patch statuses, the faster you can respond to issues.
Some patches break services or cause compatibility issues. If these happen, you should reverse them quickly to reduce downtime and frustration.
It's important to develop a rollback plan to reduce stress during outages. For major updates, create full system backups or restore points using Windows File History.
Document the steps for uninstalling updates through the command line or Windows patch management software.
Then, train your team on how to roll back without causing data loss.
Track every patch deployment. Log the time, device, type of update, and outcome. You can use this data to show proof of compliance, troubleshoot problems, or measure progress.
Having complete documentation also helps during staff transitions or audits. If something goes wrong, your records will show what was done and when.
You should choose a format that’s easy to maintain, whether that's spreadsheets or ticketing systems. Then, assign someone to review records regularly for accuracy.
Manual Windows patching doesn’t scale. It takes too much time and increases the chance of human errors.
Automated patch management reduces manual workload and helps you complete the previous steps faster.
It can automatically scan your Windows systems for missing patches, test updates, and deploy them. It saves valuable time and reduces security vulnerabilities.
However, automation isn’t a set-and-forget-it process. You still need to review reports and test updates. But it helps you stay consistent across the board.
After learning that automation is among the best practices for Windows patch management, you might be curious about how to implement it. Below are some tips you can follow:
Start by reviewing how you currently handle Windows patching. Look at what’s working, what’s not, and where delays usually happen.
Focus on identifying gaps like missing alerts, inconsistent schedules, or unmanaged devices. You should also talk to your IT team about your current pain points to address needs that are not visible to you.
Automation works best when built on a clear picture of your current patch management process.
The right patch management tool can help you set up automated workflows with ease.
Choose whether you need an on-premises or cloud-based patch management software. You should also evaluate features like automatic scanning, scheduled deployment, rollback options, reporting, and third-party app patching.
Don't forget to check integration with existing IT management solutions, like remote monitoring and management (RMM), asset inventory, and documentation tools.
Finally, if your IT infrastructure involves more than Windows devices, you should invest in patch management software that can handle Mac, Linux, and other systems as well. This eliminates the need for multiple tools and duplicate efforts.
After selecting the best patch management software, you should configure it to scan devices for missing patches on a regular schedule. Group devices by role, OS version, or location.
You should also enable alerts or dashboard notifications for failed scans. Doing so helps your IT team respond quickly to patch issues.
Make sure the tool can distinguish between security and non-security updates. You can use custom scripts to exclude specific Windows patches if needed.
Avoid installing system updates and software patches during peak hours. Instead, you should automate these deployments with rules that control when and how updates apply.
For example, you can delay reboots or install updates in batches. Start with low-risk groups before rolling out to critical systems.
Always allow a buffer for testing. If your team works across time zones, stagger deployments accordingly. This reduces downtime and maintains employee productivity.
Automation is only as good as the people behind it. Make sure your IT staff knows how the patch management software works.
Train them on setting policies, reviewing alerts, and troubleshooting failed deployments.
Then, assign roles for reviewing patch reports and handling exceptions. Don’t rely on one person to manage everything. Cross-train your IT team so patching doesn’t stop when someone is out.
If you're still not convinced of the importance of automation in Windows patch management, here are the specific benefits you can expect.
Automation speeds up the entire patch process. Once configured, Windows patches can be rolled out to hundreds or thousands of devices at once. This eliminates the need to check each endpoint manually and download pending updates.
You can set up a regular schedule for scanning missing patches and write scripts for approval workflows. This way, when the patch management software detects unpatched systems, it can automatically deploy updates without manual oversight.
Since automation reduces manual workload, your IT team can shift focus to more important tasks like security planning, audits, or infrastructure upgrades.
Automation allows you to spend less time reacting to problems and more time improving operations. This improved efficiency can lead to positive gains in your bottom line.
Manual patching processes are error-prone. It’s easy to skip a machine, forget to reboot, or apply the wrong patch.
Automated patch management significantly reduces the risk of human errors. It ensures that the system follows the same patching rules every time. It doesn’t forget steps or lose track of devices.
Automation can also handle patch testing and rollback if needed. This helps prevent compatibility issues and unexpected downtime.
Automated patching lets you respond fast to missing updates, active security threats, or even failed patches. It can scan all devices, identify gaps, and deploy fixes immediately without manual oversight.
Faster response times can reduce your IT team's panic during emergencies. They can also increase user satisfaction and maintain smooth operations.
Hybrid work adds complexity to the patch management process. Devices may be outside the corporate network, on VPNs, or using cloud platforms.
Automated patch management software helps you manage all of these endpoints in the same way. They let you customize rules that cover office-based, remote, and mobile users.
These tools also provide full visibility into Windows systems and devices. They ensure consistency and reduce risks across your entire IT infrastructure.
Level is a modern RMM platform that automates Windows patch management processes. It can deploy updates seamlessly across all endpoints, ensuring your Windows systems remain secure and compliant.
Level also features scheduling tools to reduce operational disruptions without manual effort. It can even delay updates when needed to ensure critical patches are stable and bug-free.
Plus, Level can automatically notify you when patches fail to install properly. This keeps your systems secure and reliable at all times.
Beyond Windows patch management, Level offers advanced scripting tools, real-time monitoring, and remote control features for Mac and Linux. It is the ideal IT management solution for internal IT teams and MSPs.
Book a demo or sign up to enjoy a free trial of Level today!
Windows patch management involves finding, testing, and installing software updates for Windows operating systems. These patches fix known issues, address security flaws, and improve system reliability.
Yes, Microsoft SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) is a patch management tool. It allows IT teams to deploy Windows updates across networks, monitor patch status, and control when and how updates are installed.
Patch management typically includes three categories: security patching, feature updates, and bug fixes. Security patching addresses known threats, while feature updates add or improve system functionality. Bug fixes correct software issues that affect performance or usability. A good patching strategy includes all three to keep systems safe and stable.
WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) provides basic patching for Windows environments. It lets admins approve and distribute Microsoft updates. On the other hand, SCCM offers broader capabilities like third-party patching, deeper reporting, and endpoint management.
At Level, we understand the modern challenges faced by IT professionals. That's why we've crafted a robust, browser-based Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) platform that's as flexible as it is secure. Whether your team operates on Windows, Mac, or Linux, Level equips you with the tools to manage, monitor, and control your company's devices seamlessly from anywhere.
Ready to revolutionize how your IT team works? Experience the power of managing a thousand devices as effortlessly as one. Start with Level today—sign up for a free trial or book a demo to see Level in action.
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