Windows Patch Management, St. Bernard's UpdateEXPERT
[December 16, 2004] We conclude our overview of Windows patch management solutions with a look at UpdateEXPERT, a unique offering that allows agent-based and agentless implementations, as well as implementations with a mix of both.

Windows Patch Management, PatchLink Update
[October 20, 2004] PatchLink was an early entrant in the patch management arena. Today, its flagship product, PatchLink Update, is a major player in this space. We continue our discussion of third-party patch management solutions with a look at this offering.

Windows Patch Management, BigFix
[September 29, 2004] We continue our discussion of third-party patch management products, this time taking a look at BigFix's server-based BigFix Enterprise Suite and its agent-based client software, the Fixlet messaging component.

Windows Patch Management, Shavlik Technologies
[July 14, 2004] Our Windows Patch Management series shifts its focus to examine patch management products from third-party vendors. First up: Shavlik Technologies, one of the pioneers in this space.

Windows Patch Management, SMS 2003 Overview
[June 16, 2004] For our final look at Microsoft's patch management solutions, we overview the latest iteration of SMS 2.0 SUS Feature Pack, as implemented in the recently released SMS 2003, and discuss what's next on the vendor's patch management road map.

Windows Patch Management, SMS 2.0 SUS Feature Pack Operations
[June 4, 2004] We conclude our coverage of SMS' role in Windows patch management with an examination of configuration requirements and application prerequisites.

Windows Patch Management, SUS Feature Pack (Architectural Review)
[May 7, 2004] Microsoft's SUS Feature Pack aims to meet a broad spectrum of enterprise needs, including asset inventory, software deployment, and license monitoring. We dissect the key improvements and components in the latest release.

Windows Patch Management, Software Update Services (Part 2)
[April 23, 2004] Microsoft's SUS tool is designed to enable a highly customized deployment infrastructure by facilitating patch selectivity. We complete our coverage of SUS with a look at client settings, advanced configuration options, and future plans.

Windows Patch Management, Software Update Services (Part 1)
[April 8, 2004] Unlike the free patch deployment tools previously covered in this series, Microsoft's Software Update Services tool is designed to enable a highly customized deployment infrastructure by facilitating patch selectivity. We discuss SUS' features and benefits, as well as how to install, configure, and administer it.

Windows Patch Management, Office Update Inventory Tool
[March 24, 2004] The ability to scan for Microsoft Office updates has long been limited to the computer on which the scan is launched. But change is under way. We overview the Office Update Inventory Tool, which can scan multiple computers to determine if upgrades are needed.

Windows Patch Management, Looking Beyond Windows
[March 17, 2004] We continue our examination of free Windows patch management solutions with an eye on Shavlik Technologies' offerings and the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. The products offer a host of interface and deployment options as well as reporting capabilities.

Windows Patch Management, Options in Windows Update
[February 26, 2004] The most basic patch-related technology available in Windows 2000 and above is Windows Update. The functionality relies on cooperation between client and server components, but gives administrators a host of options for configuring the tool. We continue our patching series with a focus on these choices.

Windows Patch Management, Free Solutions -- An Overview
[January 28, 2004] We begin our discussion of free Windows patching solutions with a look at general techniques for querying registry and launch processes on local and remote systems. We also examine various scripting solutions.

Windows Patch Management, Introduction
[January 15, 2004] Advancements in patch management have made it easier to keep Windows environments secure. We kick off our Windows Patch Management series with some recent history about patch-related technologies and an overview of general patch management concepts.