Patch Management Services

At E-N Computers, we use a combination of automatic and manual updates to keep your systems secure and reliable, so you can focus on your work. 

Do you really have time for patching?

Patch management may not be the sexiest IT service, but it’s the one that can save you from the most painful and expensive cybersecurity incidents.

A 2024 study found that one-third of ransomware attacks start with an unpatched vulnerability, and those attacks cost more and did more damage than any other type.

Regularly scheduled software updates also protect you against bugs, glitches, and performance issues.

You may know all of this, but your patching still isn’t getting done. Here’s why:

  • Time

    Regular patching competes with other urgent IT responsibilities. Managing patches across a variety of systems and apps can feel overwhelming.

  • Expertise

    Complex systems or applications may require advanced knowledge to patch correctly.

  • Tools

    Small IT teams or solo managers may struggle to allocate time or tools for patch management.

Frustrated man looking at laptop

Our automated and manual patching services

Automatic Windows Updates

  • Desktops and laptops running Windows 10 and newer, daily 
  • Servers running Windows 2016 and newer, monthly 
laptop screen

Automatic Application Updates

  • Adobe Acrobat, Digital Editions, Reader
  • Browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera
  • Thunderbird email client
  • Microsoft Office
  • Zoom

Automatic driver and firmware updates

Drivers, firmware, and BIOS are the software layer between Windows and your computer hardware. We automatically update them on Dell computers.

For non-Dell computers, we rely on Windows to provide the updates.  

man working with multiple computers

Manual updates 

There are some updates that need to be done manually. Some can be done during your regular onsite visit; others may need to be scheduled separately. Manual updates are performed for: 

  • Failed automatic updates 
  • Patches that require technician interaction 
  • Updates to network equipment and VoIP systems 
  • Locally hosted SQL, Exchange, and SharePoint 
  • macOS, iOS, and Android updates 
  • Unix/Linux updates 
  • Virtualization software and BIOS on virtual hosts 
  • Line of business applications 

How to work with our patching services

Communication leads to success 

Our processes make the best use of your time and money and require us to communicate often and early.  

  • During your regular check-ins, usually monthly, account management will let you know about any workstations that are falling behind on updates. 
  • Account management works with you to prioritize which manual updates can be done during an onsite visit and which need to be billed separately. 
  • We will always inform you of additional costs and get your approval before work begins. 

Systems and software we do NOT update 

You should know that there are a few things we don’t update. 

  • Websites are best updated by your marketing agency or web host. 
  • Vendor-updated software, including web apps and software with a maintenance contract, is the responsibility of that vendor. We gladly coordinate with vendors to make sure necessary work can be completed. 
  • Employee-owned devices are the responsibility of employees, even if they use them for work.  
  • Unmanaged company-owned devices: any system we update needs to have our management tools on it. 

“After being onboarded, EN has had a fast response time to our issues.”

Yuhannes Watts, president of Guaranteed Cleaning Services

Worker writing out plant labels

Case Study

An unpatched firewall led to a $500,000 ransomware threat for local farm retailer

Sometimes the best way to sell the value of patching is to tell you what can happen when it doesn’t get done.

We recently helped an Augusta-area farm retailer recover from a $500,000 ransomware attack that led to employee salary and social security numbers being published online.

The retailer was using a VPN with a firewall. However, the firewall was out of date and had known vulnerabilities. In other words, there were patches available that would have protected from this attack.

Their IT manager was overwhelmed, wearing many other hats. Nobody was really monitoring their systems.

Hackers were able to access the VPN and steal the IT manager’s credentials. Using these stolen admin credentials, the hackers pushed out a ransomware package to all seven of the retailer’s locations.

The ransomware copied files—particularly financial data—and then encrypted all the computers. The hackers emailed the data to the retailer, demanding $500,000 to prevent the release of salary information.

All 150 of their desktop computers were shut down across seven locations, four servers and the VPN were compromised, their backup disks failed, they lost the 30 days of emails, and their website was taken down.

The retailer never paid the ransom, but it took three months to get systems fully back online. They experienced lost income and lost trust with employees and customers.

All from patching that didn’t happen.

Get patching off your plate

Improve security and performance with patch management services from E-N Computers.

20+

Years Delivering IT Solutions

70+

Organizations Served

Top 5

Managed Service Provider in Virginia

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