Progent's Managed Services

The update process can pose a number of challenges that can differ for various environments. Assets that could need updating can reside on site, in the cloud, on the road, or in the homes of telecommuters. Networks may include a mix of Windows, Linux, Apple, and Google operating systems and apps. Some updates can be installed automatically and at virtually any scale using tools like Microsoft Configuration Manager, Intune, or Azure Automation Update. Others must be performed manually. Patching for core resources must be scheduled to minimize business disruption. In certain line-of-business environments, updates must be carefully validated prior to being applied to production.

Progent's support services for patch management provide organizations of all sizes a versatile and affordable alternative for evaluating, testing, scheduling, implementing, and tracking updates to your dynamic information system. In addition to maximizing the safety and functionality of your information system, Progent's update management services open up time for your IT team to focus on strategic projects and tasks that return maximum business advantage to your network.

Progent's Software Update Management Activities
Progent provides standard and specialized service programs for software and firmware patching. These services permit you to outsource part or all of your software update management activity to an IT support firm with over 20 years of background delivering solution design, deployment, and support to businesses of all sizes globally. Progent operates closely with your IT management team to define the critical services you require. Services offered by Progent for patch include:

• Discover system resources: This can include business-critical platforms such as Exchange and SQL Server, web-facing servers, desktops and mobile endpoints, security products such as VPN controllers, and network appliances like routers and wireless APs.
• Determine assets to be managed: Progent will confer with you to determine which of your network assets you pick for continuing patch management services. Progent offers a selection of regular programs that target specific types of assets and Progent can also provide specialized service programs to meet your unique needs.
• Implement software update management tools: Progent is familiar with a wide range of patch installation tools and update inventory reporting systems. Available tools include Azure Automation Update Management for cloud-based assets, System Center Configuration Manager for on-premises assets, Intune for mobile devices, IT Glue for IT asset documentation, plus a selection of modern AV products. Combined, these tools allow you to deploy and monitor patches for network assets residing in public and private clouds, on-premises, on the move, at branch offices, and in the houses of at-home workers.
• Analyze update currency and perform risk assessment of missing updates: Generally, environments with up-to-date patching are more protected and dependable than those subject to inconsistent patching. Still, occasionally patches are hurried into production and carry the ability to disrupt vital business processes by introducing compatibility problems, system shutdowns, or confusing alterations to end-user experiences. Progent can help you to determine which updates carry a risk to your company's IT environment, or which updates should be assigned an urgent priority because they block an imminent security attack. Progent's background with update management support can help you to administer a safe computer system without compromising business value.
• Pick a patch management service program: Progent's team of consultants can help in designing and managing a software update management service program that fits your particular requirements. Progent offers pre-defined and custom software update management service programs and can help with both automated and manual patching. Progent can manage business-critical assets exclusively, all patchable resources, or somewhere in between.
• Patch testing: Even the world's largest networks like Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure have had major outages caused by updates that were insufficiently tested prior to being applied to production environments. For businesses with zero tolerance for downtime, Progent can help create pilot environments that permit you to make sure that new patches will not introduce reliability issues for your IT system.
• Prioritize and schedule patches: Progent can help you to decide which updates should be performed immediately and which can be safely delayed so as to reduce business disruption. Some worldwide industry standards, such as the PCI Data Security Standard, mandate that critical security updates be installed within a certain timeframe.
• Track update history and status: Progent's standard patch management service programs include creating a centralized knowledge base for tracking the patch level of every subscribed asset. This streamlines the job of locating where patches can be found and includes patch release dates, release notes, and other useful information needed for a comprehensive patch management system.
• Debug patch failures: Updates to some key items such as an OS or application server can cause unforeseen compatibility or reliability problems, particularly with outdated or home-grown software or older hardware. Progent has the scope of experience to help you to understand and mitigate problems that may crop up as a result of implementing an update.

Progent has provided advanced assistance for Cisco infrastructure appliances for more than twenty years and also offers expertise for products from other leading network companies such as Juniper, SonicWall, and CheckPoint. Progent's end-to-end services for patch management can help your organization to expand your patching solution to cover infrastructure appliances as well as servers, endpoints, applications software, and IoT devices.

Progent's Regular and Specialized Patch Management Plans
Progent provides a variety of regular software update management packages that include backup, extensive reporting, and documentation. Cost is based on the type and quantity of devices enrolled. Extra services such as creating environments for initial software update testing are billed at time and material rates. Custom plans are also offered and typically cover unusual devices and/or applications.

• ProSight Performance Monitoring
• Critical Application Maintenance - Exchange, SQL, etc.
• Scheduled Patching and Preventative Maintenance
• License & Asset reporting and management
• Managed Anti-Virus - Current AV system
• Initiate Server backup once complete
• Additional Support Billed at time and material Rates
• AIX Scan - Active Directory and report yearly
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

• Compliance scan of all Windows and Linux servers
• Update compliance assessment results for enabled machines
• Scheduled Patching and Preventative Maintenance
• License & Asset reporting and management
• Managed Anti-Virus - Current AV system
• Initiate Server backup once complete
• Additional Support Billed at time and material Rates
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

• ProSight Availability Monitoring
• OS & 3rd Party Patch Management
• Scheduled Preventative Maintenance
• Managed Anti-Virus - current AV system
• Hosted Anti-Spam - Spam Hero
• Additional Support Billed at time and material Rates
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

• Physical and Virtual Servers
• Windows Server Patch Management
• Exchange and SQL
• Patch Reporting
• Initiate Server backup once complete
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

• ProSight Availability Monitoring
• OS & 3rd Party Patch Management
• Scheduled Preventative Maintenance
• Additional Support Billed at time and material Rates
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

Security Critical Patches - applied within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

PROACTIVE Network Device Patching

• Monthly Network Health Review
• Firewall, router and Managed Switch Patching
• Additional Support Billed at T&M Rates
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

• Firewall, router, wireless controllers and managed switches patching
• Additional Support Billed at T&M Rates
• IT Glue access control and asset documentation

Security Critical Patches - applied within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

Initial Patching Process Additional Costs:
Initial updating will have an extra cost per server or network item to provide for capture and documentation of current patch level and any more documentation needed for effectively managing the ongoing patching as defined previously. If multiple updates are necessary that demand extra work for the initial patching, Progent will present any cost estimates above the normal update cost.

Other Services Available:

• SentinelOne Active Security Monitoring and AV
• Bitdefender AV
• Auvik Network and ProSight Systems Monitoring
• Patching testing before deployment
• Server hosting in private data center
• Customized management and update available
• Cybersecurity and compliance services
• Disaster recovery preparedness and business continuity

Talk to a Progent Expert about Software/Firmware Update Management Solutions
To learn more about Progent's patch management services, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.