Purpose This procedure is intended to explain how we keep client devices running Windows Operating Systems (OS) up to date using patch management feature in N-central.

Scope All client systems, servers, and workstations should be patched following this SOP.

Responsibility Centralized Services – Maintaining patch configuration within N-central Virtual Information Technology Manager (vITM) – Maintaining Client Policies for Maintenance Windows

Definitions

1. Maintenance Window – A defined date and time frame outside of Business Operations Hours where systems can be rebooted to complete patch installation.
2. Custom Property – A custom text, word, or phase that is created in N-central to map to a filter. Example a dropdown custom property list to select Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. to define a day of the week patching will occur for a Customer.

Procedure

1. vITM works with Customer Point of Contact (POC) to determine a maintenance window a. Client maintenance window is determined during onboarding b. vITM records the maintenance window information in Halo under a Policy template “Maintenance Windows”
2. Centralize Services configures N-central patching a. Maintenance windows settings are set for the customer, in N-central, during onboarding b. These settings are adjusted if POC has determined the original maintenance window needs to be changed.

Effectiveness Criteria

1. N-central patching will keep devices up to date, and provides the capability to monitor and report on Windows OS Patches that were installed
2. Records are stored within N-central server for rolling 3 months