Looking for Feedback on a Monthly Patching Strategy for 30 VMs

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Asked By CloudyCoder92 On

Hey everyone! I'm working on developing a patching strategy for our setup and I'm hoping to gather some feedback from anyone who has experience in this area.

**Environment Overview**
- We have a total of 30 virtual machines (VMs) which include a mix of Windows Server 2022 (running various roles like domain controllers, file, print, and application servers) and Windows 11 service VMs.
- Currently, our patching is mostly done manually and on an ad-hoc basis.
- We already use M365 E3/E5 licenses and utilize PDQ Deploy for updating third-party applications.

**Objectives**
- I'd like to move away from the monthly hassle of logging into each VM and clicking Windows Update.
- I want to minimize the risks associated with applying patches immediately on release day, as we've faced issues with problematic updates in the past.
- It's important for me to create a repeatable and auditable schedule that my director would be able to understand and approve.
- Additionally, I want to avoid adding more on-prem infrastructure just for the sake of patching.

**Proposed Plan**
1. Use Intune for managing OS patching while continuing to use PDQ Deploy for application updates.
2. Implement two dedicated Intune service accounts for better management of VM enrollments.
3. Establish a monthly patching schedule that aligns with Patch Tuesday but includes a delay for testing.
4. Ensure strong governance with locked-down service accounts and proper grouping of devices in Intune.

**Questions for the Community**
- Does the strategy of using two Intune service accounts along with PDQ Deploy and a delayed Patch Tuesday sound reasonable for my 30-VM setup?
- Are there any potential pitfalls to using dedicated accounts as the primary user on these servers?
- For those with similar setups, how do you manage exceptions for VMs that can't reboot during the patching window? Also, how do you report patch compliance in a way that's satisfactory to management?
- Do you think simplifying the accounts or policies would be better, or should I maintain the separation?

I'm open to any constructive criticism or alternative design suggestions to achieve a practical and low-touch monthly patching process that accommodates our small team.

2 Answers

Answered By SysAdminJedi On

I'm surprised you're not using a Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tool for this. It could really streamline your processes.

CloudyCoder92 -

Yeah, I inherited a bit of a mess here. Just trying to piece things together!

Answered By TechieGamer77 On

I don't think you can manage Server OS updates directly through Intune. Have you considered using Azure Update Manager instead? It might offer you the control you're looking for with server patches.

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