WSUS Patch
Management for
Third Party Patching

Easy2Patch seamlessly integrates with Microsoft WSUS, centralizing the distribution of software updates for Windows and associated applications.

Get 30 Day Premium Trial  Schedule a Demo

WSUS Patch Manager

What is WSUS?

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) stands as a pivotal tool, empowering information technology administrators to efficiently manage and distribute the latest Microsoft product updates across their networks. This indispensable server role enables the seamless deployment of essential updates released through Microsoft Updates to computers within an organization. Update management is crucial for controlling the deployment and maintenance of software releases, safeguarding operational efficiency and security. Without proper management, organizations face potential security vulnerabilities, leading to financial losses and intellectual property breaches.

However, IT security is multifaceted, extending beyond Microsoft products. Recognizing this, Easy2Patch steps in as a dynamic solution, seamlessly complementing WSUS by addressing a crucial aspect of patch management: updates for third-party applications. In today's digital era, where diverse software applications are integral to operations, Easy2Patch fills the gap by automating the process of updating third-party applications, ensuring comprehensive protection and smooth functionality across your IT infrastructure.

Agentless Patching Architecture for SCCM, Intune and WSUS
How does WSUS Work?

How does WSUS Work?

Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) is a vital tool for organizations managing a network of Windows-based machines. WSUS, created and distributed by Microsoft, centrally manages updates, hotfixes, and patches within organizations. Its primary function is to provide a unified platform for handling Windows updates, allowing businesses to defer updates, approve them selectively, and decide the timing of their deployment. The software operates through a single management console located on a central server or a group of servers, which enables the distribution of the latest Microsoft product updates to all machines connected to the network. This streamlined approach ensures that all devices, regardless of the Windows OS version they are running, remain up-to-date and protected against security vulnerabilities.

One of the key strengths of WSUS lies in its ability to maintain stability in a production environment. By managing updates across diverse machines, including those running legacy operating systems like Windows XP and modern Windows Server processes, WSUS ensures that the organization's entire infrastructure is secure and stable. To enhance security further, Microsoft recommends using HTTPS with WSUS.

To achieve this, obtain and bind a certificate, enforce SSL/TLS encryption for specific applications, and configure WSUS and client machines to utilize HTTPS communications. Enhance your patch management efficiency with Easy2Patch, the ultimate companion to WSUS. Integrating with Microsoft WSUS, Easy2Patch ensures a hassle-free experience, empowering you to maintain a secure and up-to-date environment with ease.

Exploring WSUS Benefits: How It Simplifies Patch Management

Businesses are constantly seeking efficient solutions to simplify their patch management processes. By streamlining patch management, WSUS offers automation, centralized reporting, and scalability, making it an essential asset for organizations of all sizes. Here, we explore the key advantages of utilizing WSUS for patch management, focusing on its ability to streamline operations and reduce manual efforts.

  • Automation

    Automation

    WSUS automates the cumbersome process of patching, saving significant time compared to manual methods. It scans client computers to identify installed updates and pending patches. Once updates are approved, client computers automatically download and install the necessary updates upon contacting the WSUS server. This automation reduces the workload on IT administrators, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks, thereby enhancing efficiency.

  • Centralized Reporting

    Centralized Reporting

    WSUS provides a centralized hub for Windows updates within an organization. It enables companies to defer or selectively approve updates, control delivery times, and target specific devices or groups. This centralized system offers visibility into the patching status of each server, allowing administrators to identify and remediate any gaps in the patching process in real-time.

  • Scalability

    Scalability

    WSUS is highly scalable and adaptable to organizations of varying sizes and site layouts. Administrators can configure the system based on network security and requirements, determining the number of WSUS servers directly connecting to Microsoft Updates. This scalability ensures that WSUS can seamlessly integrate into diverse organizational infrastructures, making it a flexible solution for patch management.

  • Reducing Manual Work

    Reducing Manual Work

    By automating the patch deployment process, WSUS minimizes manual intervention. This reduction in manual work allows IT staff to allocate their time and efforts to other critical tasks, thereby improving overall operational efficiency.

  • Centralizing Patch Management

    Centralizing Patch Management

    WSUS centralized patch management operations, simplifying the deployment process. Centralization streamlines the management of updates, making the deployment process more efficient and easier to handle.

  • Providing Real-Time Reporting

    Providing Real-Time Reporting

    WSUS offers real-time reporting on patching activities. Administrators can monitor the patching process in real-time, enabling them to make immediate adjustments as needed. This real-time visibility ensures that the patching process is continuously optimized, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the patch management strategy.

Get started with our patch management software for free

Get 30 Day Premium Trial 

The Power of Easy2Patch in Enhancing WSUS for Streamlined Patch Management

Easy2Patch stands out as a comprehensive third-party solution designed to seamlessly integrate with WSUS, offering a streamlined approach to patch management processes. By exploring Easy2Patch, businesses can significantly simplify and enhance their IT security strategies. This innovative solution not only automates the updating of third-party applications within Microsoft ConfigMgr, Intune, and WSUS but also ensures effortless management for over 400 applications.

The agentless patching architecture not only saves time, labor, and money but also provides complete visibility and control over patching endeavors. By leveraging Easy2Patch alongside WSUS, organizations experience improved efficiency and effectiveness in their IT security operations, allowing them to navigate the digital landscape with confidence and ease.

Agentless Patching Architecture for SCCM, Intune and WSUS
How does WSUS Work?

Integrating WSUS with Easy2Patch, Your Trusted Third-Party Solution

Easy2Patch's E2P Patch Manager empowers system administrators by providing an efficient and user-friendly solution for patching third-party applications. Through seamless integration with WSUS, SCCM, and Intune, proactive vulnerability checks, rigorous testing, and centralized patch management capabilities, E2P Patch Manager significantly enhances the organization's ability to manage and deploy patches, ensuring a secure and up-to-date IT environment.

  • E2P Patch Manager proactively checks for vulnerabilities in third-party applications before deployment, ensuring that potential security risks are detected and mitigated before they can be exploited.
  • Before deploying updates, E2P Patch Manager verifies them to ensure their integrity and compatibility.
  • System administrators can create applications and updates with ease using E2P Patch Manager. The solution simplifies software update distribution to computers, enabling seamless deployment of patches across the network
  • E2P Patch Manager facilitates centralized updates across various applications within Microsoft Configuration Manager.
  • The solution seamlessly publishes third-party updates to Intune, allowing organizations to maintain a secure and up-to-date application environment. E2P Patch Manager supports both installation and uninstallation operations through Intune, providing flexibility in managing software updates across diverse endpoints.
  • E2P Patch Manager simplifies patch management through WSUS, offering a user-friendly interface and intuitive tools. By integrating with WSUS, Easy2Patch enables users to update and deploy applications efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Easy2Patch simplifies and enhances the IT security strategy by integrating with Microsoft WSUS, offering a centralized solution for distributing software updates across Windows and associated applications. By integrating with Microsoft SCCM as well, Easy2Patch ensures effective control over application updates and installations. Through this integration, Easy2Patch facilitates the distribution of patches to various devices and systems, even across geographical locations, enhancing the overall efficiency of patch deployment. Furthermore, Easy2Patch ensures security by patching vulnerabilities in third-party applications, thus safeguarding systems against potential cyber threats. Its ability to update applications securely from the original site's URL adds a layer of reliability and authenticity to the patch deployment process, reinforcing network security measures.

Easy2Patch offers advanced automation and scheduling capabilities to optimize the patch management process. It automatically deploys third-party patches as soon as they are released, ensuring that systems are consistently up-to-date with the latest security patches without manual intervention. What sets Easy2Patch apart is its agentless approach, deploying software updates securely without the need for additional software agents on target devices, streamlining the patch management process, and reducing complexity. Moreover, Easy2Patch allows customization in distributing software updates, enabling organizations to target specific devices or user groups based on predefined criteria and enhancing flexibility. The software ensures patch reliability through hash check controls and aids organizations in maintaining compliance with patch management standards and regulations. Additionally, administrators and managers benefit from complete visibility and control over patching tasks thanks to Easy2Patch's user-friendly interface. The software also enables easy synchronization of patches to preferred schedules, sending notifications via email, Teams, or Telegram, enhancing overall efficiency and coordination in the patch management workflow.

WSUS is a Windows Server role that manages Microsoft product updates on a network. It provides a centralized hub for deploying and managing the latest updates within an organization.

SCCM is a comprehensive management solution for devices, applications, OS, and services. WSUS is a component of SCCM focusing on Windows updates. Both can be used together for complete update management.

Yes, Microsoft still uses WSUS as part of its update management strategy. However, it also recommends other tools like Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager for advanced features.

Yes. You can use WSUS without SCCM, but you'll need additional components, like the Group Policy Management Console or PowerShell, for configuration and management.

There is no official replacement for WSUS from Microsoft. Some organizations may migrate to solutions like MECM based on their needs.

Configure automatic updates, create computer groups, download updates to WSUS, review and approve updates, and deploy approved updates to client devices using methods like Group Policy or third parties.

Patch management can enhance security, reduce downtime, prevent compatibility issues, and optimize system performance by keeping software up-to-date.

WSUS operates exclusively on the port we designate, facilitating communication between the client and the server. While WSUS downloads updates from the internet, service users initiate downloads by connecting to WSUS through the specified port.

Yes, Microsoft WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) is a free tool that comes with Windows Server, enabling IT administrators to manage updates. While WSUS itself has no upfront costs, there are indirect costs, including time and resources for maintenance. Tolly's analysis suggests an average of 2,454 hours of labor per year. Additionally, there may be costs for managing servers, devices, and third-party software. Despite being free, WSUS's total ownership cost can accrue, necessitating evaluation based on specific organizational needs and resources.

Configure automatic updates, create computer groups, download updates to WSUS, review and approve updates, and deploy approved updates to client devices using methods like Group Policy or third parties.

There is no official replacement, but some alternatives include MECM, or third-party solutions like Ivanti, SolarWinds, or ManageEngine

Setting up and configuring WSUS can be challenging due to system requirements and decisions on storage, languages, groups, and settings. Maintenance and troubleshooting can be complex due to potential conflicts.

Major version changes for features and functionality, known as upgrades, require more time and resources. On the other hand, minor version changes, known as updates, require less time and involve only necessary files. You can upgrade using Windows Update/Upgrade Assistant or Configuration Manager and perform updates through Windows Update or WSUS.