Why is it important to keep the operating systems on my devices updated?

Staying up-to-date with operating system updates is essential for protecting your devices and data. Outdated operating systems can be vulnerable to security threats, performance issues, and compatibility problems.

Key Reasons to Keep Your Operating Systems Updated

Security

• Vulnerabilities: Updates often address security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
• Malware Protection: Keeping your operating system updated helps protect against malware, viruses, and other threats.

Performance

• Optimized Performance: Updates often include performance enhancements that can improve your device's speed and responsiveness.
• Bug Fixes: Updates can fix bugs and glitches that may be causing performance issues.

Compatibility

• Software Compatibility: Newer operating systems are often designed to be compatible with the latest software applications.
• Hardware Compatibility: Updates can improve compatibility with new hardware devices.

Features

• New Features: Updates often introduce new features and functionalities that can enhance your device's capabilities.

Tips for Keeping Your Operating Systems Updated

• Automatic Updates: Enable automatic updates on your devices to ensure that they are always up-to-date. Windows has this feature built in and is typically active.  OSX also has an active update routine, the system will prompt you for updates.
• Check for Updates Regularly: If automatic updates are disabled, check for updates manually regularly.
  Reliable Sources: Only download updates from trusted sources, such as the official websites of the operating system manufacturers. Most often, the operating system itself will have an update utility built into it.
• Backup Your Data: Before installing updates, create a backup of your important data to protect against potential issues. This is very important for any device changes or updates. The chance for something to go wrong is always present.

Ideally, if you have the capability, setting up a central management system (or RMM) can help to manage all your devices and their updates. Microsoft has its inTune services and Apple utilizes their Apple Business Manager program to help manage all aspects of devices. These systems can also provide you with recovery points or the ability to back out updates that are corrupt or causing problems. A best practice is to have a test machine available, update that machine, test out software, and then push the update to the rest of the stations once it's proven to be “safe”.

By keeping your operating systems updated, you can help protect your devices, improve their performance, and ensure that they remain compatible with the latest software and hardware.