The Process of Updating Network Software

You must plan to update every network feature that uses software. This naturally includes client and server operating systems and applications, but it also includes routers, firewalls, wireless access points, and switches. To keep your systems up to date, follow these steps:

1. Assemble an update team.
2. Inventory all software in your organization, and then contact each software vendor and determine its process of notifying customers of software updates. Some vendors will notify you of updates directly via e-mail, but others require you to check a Web site regularly. Assign individuals to identify software updates on a regular basis. For example, someone on your team should be responsible for checking every software vendor's Web site for new updates on at least a weekly basis.
3. Create an update process for discovering, evaluating, retrieving, testing, installing, auditing, and removing updates. Although most of the process will be the same for all vendors, you might have to customize parts of the process to accommodate different uptime and testing requirements for servers, clients, and network equipment. As an example, this tutorial will thoroughly document the update process to use for Microsoft operating system updates.

This resource kit focuses only on updating the Windows 7 operating system. However, your process should include the ability to manage updates for other operating systems, applications, and network devices. The sections that follow discuss these steps in more detail.