Keeping Azure up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates is an important aspect of maintaining the security and integrity of your Azure resources. In this technical reference guide, we will walk through the process of ensuring that Azure is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.
Prerequisites
Before ensuring that Azure is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates, you will need to have the following:
- An Azure subscription that you have access to as an administrator.
- Knowledge of Azure update management and patching process.
- Familiarity with Azure update and patching tools such as Azure Update Management, Azure Monitor, and Azure Security Center.
Step 1: Configure Azure Update Management
Azure Update Management is a feature of Azure Automation that allows you to manage updates and patches for your Azure resources. To use Azure Update Management, you will need to configure it by linking it to your Azure subscription, and by creating a schedule for when updates should be applied.
To configure Azure Update Management, follow these steps:
- In the Azure portal, go to the "Automation Accounts" service.
- Create a new Automation account or use an existing one.
- Select "Update Management" from the navigation menu of the Automation account.
- Select "Windows" or "Linux" based on the resources you want to configure.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to configure Update Management for your Azure resources.
Step 2: Create update and patch policies
Once Azure Update Management is configured, you can create update and patch policies to manage the updates and patches for your Azure resources.
These policies allows you to specify which updates and patches should be installed, and when they should be installed.
You can create different policies for different types of resources and different update schedules.
To create update and patch policies, follow these steps:
- In the Azure portal, go to the "Automation Accounts" service and select the account you have configured for Update Management.
- In the Update Management section, select "Update Management" from the navigation menu.
- Select "Add" to create a new policy.
- Define the update and patch policy, such as which updates and patches should be installed, and when they should be installed.
- Assign the policy to the relevant resources.
Step 3: Monitor and verify updates
After creating and applying update and patch policies, it's important to monitor and verify that updates and patches are being installed as expected.
You can use Azure Monitor and Azure Security Center to monitor the update status of your resources and to detect if any of them are not compliant with the update and patch policies.
It's important also to regularly review the update and patch schedule and to verify that the resources are patched with the latest security updates, especially for critical updates.
By following these steps, you can effectively ensure that Azure is kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates, helping to ensure the security and integrity of your Azure resources. Keep in mind that the configuration and setup steps may vary depending on the specific requirements and scenarios of your organization.
