What patch management capabilities does Desktop Authority have?
Desktop Authority's Patch Deployment for Desktops Option downloads and distributes patches for Microsoft operating systems, applications, as well as select third-party applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface to choose which patches should be pushed out to clients based on the severity of the patch and/or the specific product it affects. In addition, you can use Validation Logic to determine exactly how, to whom, and when different patches and classes of patch will be deployed, giving maximum control over the patching of desktops.

Is this option fully functional with the purchase of Desktop Authority?
No. While the administrative functions exist within the Desktop Authority Manager, the Patch Deployment for Desktops (PDD) Option is disabled until you purchase a separate PDD license. Without the Option enabled, you are still able to download patch database updates and see the available patches, test the Option by distributing all low severity patches, and run reports on the status of patch distribution.

My network has multiple locations. Can patches come from different servers for different locations?
Yes. With Desktop Authority, clients can either automatically select the closest Distribution Server (based on Active Directory sites) or a Distribution Server can be manually chosen by the administrator.

My users sometimes don't want patching to take place because of end-of-month activity. Is there a way they can defer the patching?
Yes. Desktop Authority allows you to specify (if desired) a number of times a user can defer the patching of their computer before it will take place.

I've had issues with some patches and need to centrally rollback a patch I've deployed. Can Desktop Authority help?
Yes. Rollbacks of patches are as easy to do as the deployment itself by simply select the patch and choosing Rollback.

I already use WUS. Why is your Patch Management solution better?
WUS is best-suited to use as an automated patch deployment solution covering only the most recent Microsoft platforms. Desktop Authoritys Patch Deployment for Desktops Option gives administrators far more granular control over when and where patches are deployed, and allows administrators to create dynamic groupings of computers and/or users with different patch behaviors. For example, the general user population might be set to automatically receive all patches at logoff time, whereas development team users might want to administer their own desktops and only receive automatic updates for high severity patches, and laptop users only receive low-severity updates when theyre connected to the LAN in the office.

Is this the same as Patch Authority Ultimate?
No. Patch Authority Ultimate is ScriptLogic's comprehensive, enterprise-class patch management solution, which enhances security and simplifies the process of updating Windows desktops and servers from a central location. Patch Authority Ultimate also includes ScriptLogic's Service Explorer for managing the status, configuration, logon settings and passwords using by services and tasks on Windows servers and desktops. See the comparison matrix on the Patch Authority Ultimate product page for a list of differentiating features.

What versions of Desktop Authority can I use the Patch Management option with?
The Patch Management option has been available since Desktop Authority 6.5, but please note that in order to receive support for the Patch Management option you must update to the latest version of the base Desktop Authority product.