After Installing Windows

• It is cost-prohibitive for Microsoft to manufacture new operating system installation discs each time a new security update is released. As a result, your Windows installation disc most likely does not include recent security updates, and your computer is at its most vulnerable immediately after the operating system is installed. When you install or reinstall Windows, immediately run the Windows Update application and download all critical operating system updates.
  
  

Security Updates

• When a new security update becomes available for Windows, the ideal time to download and apply the update is immediately – particularly if the update does not occur around the second Tuesday of the month. On this day – nicknamed "Patch Tuesday" – Microsoft distributes all standard updates through the Windows Update service. When Microsoft releases a security update on a different day, it often indicates that a serious security vulnerability has been identified and corrected.
  
  

Server Computers

• On a business network, client computers connect to a central computer – the server – to log in to the network and access shared resources. Windows often needs to restart after applying an update. When the server computer needs to be restarted, it can cause lost productivity for the business. Therefore, the Windows Update settings on a server computer should be configured so the server updates itself at night while no clients are connected. In the case of a network that must remain operational at all times, having multiple servers can allow you to set up a redundant network that shifts to one server while another restarts.
  
  

Configuring Automatic Updates

• Microsoft recommends that users configure their computers to download and apply updates automatically. Open the Start menu, and type "Windows Update" in the search field at the bottom. Click the "Windows Update" icon when it appears on the results list. Click "Change Settings" on the left side of the screen. Click the drop-down menu under "Important Updates," and select "Install Updates Automatically."