Overview

In this chapter we'll cover the following topics:

• The need for effective patch management

• Introduction to the patch management process

• Preparing for patch management

• The four-phase patch management process

• Integrating SMS 2003 into patch management processes

• Responding to emergencies

This chapter's contents are drawn from the patch management best practices documented by Microsoft in the Patch Management Using Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Solution Accelerator, Microsoft Solutions for Management (MSM) 2.5, and the Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF), which provides operational guidance covering reliability, availability, supportability, and manageability of Microsoft products and technologies. For more information about MSM and MOF, see the Microsoft Solutions for Management (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/msm) and Microsoft Operations Framework (http://www.microsoft.com/mof) Web sites.