I'm interested in how people tackle the challenge of patching laptops, especially when they can only perform updates while the devices are in use. How do you manage to keep everything secure and up to date without negatively impacting productivity? Any tips or strategies that have worked for you?
5 Answers
One solid approach is to patch the laptops whenever they're available, even if it's just during business hours. An unpatched system poses a greater productivity risk in the long run than taking a short time to reboot for updates once a month. If maintenance windows are defined and communicated well, users should be aware that some disruption might occur.
Using Intune can be really helpful here. I give users a two-day notice before their devices auto-reboot. This way, they have a chance to take care of updates themselves, which minimizes frustration. It allows users to plan around their schedules better.
That sounds great! Right now, I’m managing it with Config Manager, but I'm thinking of switching to something like Intune for these features.
That's exactly how we operate too! We offer a 12-hour reboot window if needed. Users don’t always reboot regularly, so this setup ensures timely updates while minimizing disruption.
If users would rather avoid patching during work hours, they need to ensure their laptops are left plugged in and on overnight. Just like desktops—no complaints can be made when devices are handled properly after hours.
We use Windows Update for Business, giving users a 48-hour grace period before force restarting. It's helped us maintain control without heavy complaints as managers often back us up once they realize users had ample time to reboot.
With tools like NinjaOne, we automate patch management. I set it to notify users to reboot after updates and allow them to defer a few times. This way, they can push it off but eventually they must comply to keep everything secure.
Absolutely! If IT follows the business policies, users should learn to adapt to the planned maintenance. If someone complains about rebooting during designated times, it’s ultimately an HR matter, not an IT issue.