Need advice for installing windows updates on our servers

CG_HD
CG_HD used Ask the Experts™
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Hi, Im a new Network Admin at my company. One of my new tasks is to get a handle on our servers backup strategy, we have a WSUS server, and when I looked at the update status for our servers, I found that none of them have had any MS updates installed in a very long time. what im looking for is some advice on how/when to install updates to our servers. More or less some best practice advice on how to actually install the updates, and how to choose which updates are needed and which I dont have to install. Im new to this task, so any advice would be great!
thanks in advance.  
let me know if you need additional info.
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Sr.Net.Eng
Top Expert 2011
Commented:
#1 Never have the updates install automatically.
#2 Read the details of the updates to determine if they are applicable to your situation. If they will resolve or prevent any outstanding issues.
#3 Have a test server to install the updates on to make sure they don't have an unexpected affect to your company's build.
#4 Install the updates during off hours.
DonNetwork Administrator
Commented:
Best Practices with Windows Server Update Services 3.0


http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc720525(WS.10).aspx
CG_HD

Author

Commented:
Thank you both for your input. So If im understanding you correctly Soulja, I should not install updates if they dont apply to an issue? Meaning dont just install every update that is available?
im feeling overwhelmed by all of this, we have many servers, and the SUS is reporting many hundreds of needed updates...
dstewartjr, Thank you for the link, im going to be reading that tonight !
Also im new to using this site, if I select a comment as a "solution" does that lock the thread from further discussion? how does that work?
thanks agin for your fast replies!
SouljaSr.Net.Eng
Top Expert 2011

Commented:
If you accept the comment as a solution, it doesn't lock it from further comments.  Yes, you shouldn't just install updates just because they are available. You want to always make sure they don't conflict with custom applications for example. TEST TEST TEST before rolling to production.
CG_HD

Author

Commented:
Will use the advice given to put together a plan of action for my server updates. any additional advice is very welcome!

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