It happens every month. Microsoft releases updates. Your computer asks to restart. You click "Postpone." You click "Postpone" again tomorrow.
While this feels like a nuisance, it is a massive security risk. "Vulnerabilities" are bugs in software code that hackers can exploit to take control of your computer. "Patches" are the fixes for those bugs.
The "Exploit Window"
Once Microsoft announces a vulnerability (e.g., "Critical Print Spooler Bug"), the race begins.
- Day 0: Microsoft releases the patch.
- Day 1: Hackers reverse-engineer the patch to figure out how to exploit unpatched systems.
- Day 7: Automated bots start scanning the internet for systems that haven't updated yet.
If you wait 30 days to update, you are sitting alone in the danger zone for 3 weeks.
Beyond Windows
Patching Windows is easy. But what about Adobe Reader? Google Chrome? Zoom? Java? Third-party applications account for varying percentages of vulnerabilities. If you only rely on Windows Update, you are leaving the back door open.
Automated Patch Management
At ACE IT Solutions, we don't rely on users to click "Restart." We use RMM Agents (Remote Monitoring & Management).
- Approval: We test patches on our internal machines first (Beta Ring).
- Deployment: Once safe, we push them to all client machines silently in the background.
- Governance: If a machine needs a reboot, we schedule it for 2 AM.
- Reporting: We provide a monthly report card: "100% of machines are fully patched."
Don't let a lazy "Postpone" button destroy your business. automate your hygiene.
Ready to take the next step?
Unpatched software is the #1 vector for ransomware. We can automate your entire patching cycle—from Windows to 3rd-party apps—so you never have to worry about a missed update again.