Patch Management
Automated patching across servers, workstations, and network gear.
Most successful cyberattacks exploit vulnerabilities that have patches available. The patches just have not been applied. Sometimes for weeks. Sometimes for months. The problem is rarely 'we did not know about the vulnerability'; it is 'we did not have a disciplined process for getting the patch deployed.' Patch management as a managed service solves that.
MCR Business Tech Solutions runs patch management for businesses across the Greater Pittsburgh area, Kittanning, and the four-state region we cover. Critical patches deployed within 24-72 hours of release. Routine updates batched into scheduled maintenance windows. Network gear, third-party apps, and operating systems all on the same disciplined schedule. Compliance reporting produced automatically.
The scope matters. Most informal patch programs cover Windows. Maybe Office. Maybe Chrome. They do NOT cover the third-party apps that ship vulnerabilities frequently (Java, Adobe, browser plugins), the network gear (firewalls, switches, access points) that often gets ignored entirely, or the servers running specialized line-of-business software. We cover all of it, because attackers do not limit themselves to the easy targets.
Pre-deployment testing is the part that separates good patch management from reckless patch management. Patches occasionally break things. We test in a staging environment or canary group before broad rollout, catching incompatibility issues before they hit your whole team. When something does break post-deployment, rollback via Group Policy or MDM is fast. Backups taken before patch waves provide a safety net for worst cases.
What's included
Automated Critical Patching
Critical and high-severity security patches deployed automatically within 24-72 hours of release, prioritized by vulnerability scoring and exploit availability.
Routine Maintenance Patching
Non-critical updates batched into scheduled maintenance windows aligned with your business operations. Off-hours and weekend patching available.
Pre-Deployment Testing
Patches are tested in a staging environment or canary group before broad rollout. Catches incompatibility issues before they hit your whole team.
Network Equipment Coverage
Most patch programs ignore firewalls, switches, and access points. We do not. Network gear gets the same disciplined update schedule as workstations.
Third-Party Application Patching
Java, Adobe, Chrome, browser plugins, and other third-party apps that ship vulnerabilities frequently. Patched on the same schedule as Windows and Office updates.
Compliance Reporting
Reports showing patch coverage by device, time-to-patch by severity, and exception tracking. Required for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and cyber insurance audits.
Why businesses choose MCR
Full-Stack Coverage
Operating systems, third-party apps, network gear, server roles. Everything that ships security patches gets patched, not just Windows Update.
24-72 Hour Critical Window
Critical and actively-exploited vulnerabilities patched within 24-72 hours. Faster than typical break-fix shops, more disciplined than 'we will get to it.'
Pre-Deployment Testing
Staging environment or canary group catches breakage before it hits everyone. Rollback paths documented for the patches that need them.
Compliance-Ready Reporting
Patch coverage by device, time-to-patch by severity, exception tracking. Required for HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and cyber insurance audits.
Getting started
Inventory & Baseline
Catalog every device, application, and network appliance that ships security patches. Establish baseline patch posture; surface anything dangerously behind.
Schedule & Automate
Define maintenance windows, deploy automation for routine patching, set policy for critical patches. All scheduled around your business operations.
Ongoing Cycle
Critical patches deployed on the 24-72h window. Routine maintenance during scheduled windows. Monthly reports on coverage and compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Why does patch management need to be a managed service? Can't we just run Windows Update?
Windows Update covers Windows. It does not cover third-party apps, network gear, servers running specialized software, or compliance-grade tracking. A managed program covers all of that and produces the audit documentation.
What happens when a patch causes a problem?
Pre-deployment testing catches most issues before broad rollout. When something does break post-deployment, we can roll back via Group Policy, MDM, or hands-on. Backups taken before patch waves provide a safety net for worst cases.
How quickly are critical patches deployed?
24-72 hours for critical-severity patches with active exploits. The exact window depends on vendor patch availability and pre-deployment testing time. We move faster than your average enterprise without rushing past sanity checks.
Do you patch in the middle of the workday?
Almost never. Patching happens during scheduled maintenance windows (after-hours, overnight, or weekends). Emergency zero-day situations are the only exception and we coordinate those individually with you.
Ready to get started?
Book an assessment and find out what MCR can do for your business.