System maintenance

Automatic updates

Automatic updates are installed on all university desktops and laptops to ensure they are secure and running smoothly. These updates protect against the latest threats and ensure optimal performance. Updates are released monthly and require a restart to install.

Requirements for updates, IT responsibilities and support are outlined in Vulnerability Management and Security Patching.

Definitions

• Quality updates: minor updates that include bug fixes, security patches, and general improvements.
• Feature updates: major updates with significant changes, including new functionality and capabilities, potential fixes and security updates.
• Deferral period: the waiting time before an update is installed to ensure a stable release. Each update type has a different deferral period before becoming available for installation on your machine.
• Deadline: the maximum allowed time to install an update and maintain system security. Deadlines are determined by update type and urgency. Your device will automatically restart if the deadline is exceeded.

Update process

1. Release: An update has been released, and your computer is waiting for the deferral period. For quality updates, the time period is 5 days, and for feature updates, it is 2 days.
2. Post-deferral: After the waiting period, the update will be downloaded, and you will receive a pop-up message notifying you that an update is ready to be installed.
3. Installation: select when you would like to install the update
   • Restart: install the update immediately. You will have 15 minutes before the machine restarts.
   • Schedule installation: choose a time that works for you.
   • Snooze: delay the installation.
4. Delayed install: You can delay or snooze the installation of updates until the specified deadline. After the deadline, your device will automatically restart to complete the update. For quality updates, you can delay the installation up to 2 days, and for feature updates, it is 7 days.

Contact us

Please contact the Cyber Security Team if you have any questions about updates, timeframes, data collection, storage, security or vulnerability.