Microsoft patches and updates are the latest security and bug fixes for the Microsoft Windows operating system and Office and database applications.
Microsoft patches contain the latest product updates and security fixes. Thus, having them installed ensures that your system is protected from security exploits and unauthorized access and control. If your computer system does not have the latest patches or updates, you risk having your system compromised by an intruder. You also are exposing the rest of the UCOP community to a security threat.
Security-related patches are released once a month on the second Tuesday of the month. However, when a security threat occurs, such as a widespread virus or worm that affects Windows-based computers, Microsoft will release a corresponding update as soon as possible. Other types of updates are released whenever they are ready.
A security update is a broadly released fix for a product-specific, security-related vulnerability. Those vulnerabilities are rated based on their severity. The severity rating is indicated in the Microsoft security bulletin as "critical," "important," "moderate," or "low." IR&C only installs updates deemed critical, important, and moderate.
Prior to installing any patches, the Technology Service Desk tests the patches on comparable systems so as to validate that the patches will not break any applications. While the testing is thorough, we cannot guarantee that no applications will be broken by the patch. If you have any issues after the patch has been installed, please contact the IR&C Technology Service Desk and they will work to fix the problem.
IR&C will install critical and important patches on your system the second Friday of every month. The patches are downloaded to your machine once you log into the Windows network Friday morning. The installation itself begins at noon. The installation process does not require any user interaction and is completely transparent to the user. IR&C installs moderate patches the following Friday via the same methodology.
In some cases, installing these updates and patches will require that you restart your system. IR&C has provided you the option of restarting the system after the installation or delaying the restart for 2 hour intervals up until 6:00 p.m. If the patches require a restart and you have not restarted your system by 6:00 p.m. that day, IR&C will restart the system for you to ensure your system is protected against the latest threats and viruses.
If you are a remote user, not in the office, or your machine is shut down during the Friday patch cycle, IR&C will download and deliver the patches to your machine when you reconnect to the UCOP network. If the patches require a restart, you will have until 6:00 p.m. to comply.
