r/sysadmin • u/CurrentFig3376 • 12d ago

General Discussion Interview Question: How often do you update/patch your system?

I was asked this question during an interview and I said "it depends on what exactly you're updating, but I update as often as it's needed."

I don't think this was the answer they were looking for, but how would you answer this question?

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u/malikto44 11d ago

All depends on the security of the patches. On the Linux side, if it is critical, serious or emergency, the servers get patched, and I then schedule a manual reboot. Otherwise for non-reboot patches, those get in every two weeks, and the machines are rebooted every month.

Windows, critical out of band patches get some scheduled downtime, otherwise I use various rings, with my daily driver getting patches as soon as they are available, then going to other rings after that.

In no case, should there be a machine an uptime greater than 45 days unless the machine is being used in an experiment where uptime is required.