

Susan Bradley
Contributing Writer
Susan Bradley has been patching since before the Code Red/Nimda days and remembers exactly where she was when SQL slammer hit (trying to buy something on eBay and wondering why the Internet was so slow). She writes the Patch Watch column for Askwoody.com, is a moderator on the PatchManagement.org listserve, and writes a column of Windows security tips for CSOonline.com. In real life, she’s the IT wrangler at her firm, Tamiyasu, Smith, Horn and Braun, where she manages a fleet of Windows servers, Microsoft 365 deployments, Azure instances, desktops, a few Macs, several iPads, a few Surface devices, several iPhones and tries to keep patches up to date on all of them. In addition, she provides forensic computer investigations for the litigation consulting arm of the firm. She blogs at https://www.askwoody.com/tag/patch-lady-posts/ and is on twitter at @sbsdiva. She lurks on Twitter and Facebook, so if you are on Facebook with her, she really did read what you posted. She has a SANS/GSEC certification in security and prefers Heavy Duty Reynolds wrap for her tinfoil hat.

The first Patch Tuesday of '21; time to delay updates
Though most users should be ok with the latest round of patches from Microsoft, it's still prudent to delay installing them for a bit to make sure there are no problems.

SolarWinds, Solorigate, and what it means for Windows updates
The recent SolarWinds attack raised serious questions about how safe companies (and government agencies) are when OS or software updates roll out. Since Microsoft was also hit, it’s important to understand what happened.

The end-of-the-year patching all-clear
As 2020 slips away and '21 comes into view, it's time to get Microsoft's latest patches installed, and maybe do a little DIY upgrades on your hardware.

The patching conundrum: When is good enough good enough?
Patches and updates are designed to fix problems, not cause them. But sometimes a few users still get bitten. When that happens, what do you do — avoid, delay or dive in anyway?

2020: A look back at patching and the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic changed so many things in the tech world, not the least of which was Microsoft's patching processes. Here's a look at a few highlights to keep in mind as we head toward 2021.

December Patch Tuesday round-up: Winding down for the year
The final Patch Tuesday for 2020 has come and gone, though Microsoft likely isn't quite finished with updates and fixes for the year. Here's where we stand now.

On the future of Windows 10’s feature releases
Microsoft’s twice-yearly feature updates arrive every six months — whether users want them or not. The company needs to do something to make this upgrade process less disruptive and avoid patch fatigue.

It's December patch prep time
Microsoft's Patch Tuesday is coming up. Time to get your hardware ready and delay updates until any issues are worked out.

A pre-Thanksgiving all-clear to install patches
As the US gets ready for Thanksgiving, Windows 10 users can be thankful for one thing: you can go ahead and install Microsoft’s November updates on laptops, desktops and workstations.

Deciphering (and understanding) Microsoft’s patch management options
The pandemic this year forced admins to scramble to keep their Windows systems up and running (and properly patched) at a distance. So it's important to understand what options are available and which work best in different situations....

The November Patch Tuesday aftermath
There were a few surprises in this month's updates released on Tuesday, including Office 2010 updates, some Intel Microcode updates you can probably skip and fixes for Outlook memory issues.
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