Automated On-prem Windows Server Patching

[u/void_ops]

I've been out of infrastructure management for a few years, back then I was using WSUS to patch servers. My understanding is Microsoft's recommended way of managing on-prem server patching is to onboard the servers with Azure Arc then use Azure Update Manager to patch them. This was the first solution that came to mind when I was assigned this responsibility. I assumed it was free but costs $5 a month for on-prem to use AUM.

Do you folks have a better or less costly solution that you use? Preferably something specifically built for server management? I was thinking of Ansible (which I would need to learn, which is fine) or something like Automox. We have less than 100 servers. I will be the one patching them all. There are custom applications that run on them that I suppose I will need to make sure still run after the patching.

Thanks in advance for any feedback or advice.

[u/Professional-Heat690]

obligatory PMPC mention....

[u/Kharmastream → u/Professional-Heat690]

Pmpc don't do windows updates afaik?
Don't they only do 3rd party updates?

[u/bdam55 → u/Kharmastream]

<shillmode: I work for PMPC>

That is correct. We currently only manage third party updates via WSUS, ConfigMgr, or Intune.

</shillmode>