Patching your PC against outside threats

There continues to be a number of viruses and worms which exploit vulnerabilities in the operating systems which are used to run your machines (e.g. Windows XP and Windows 7). Microsoft have reacted by producing a number of patches which better secure the operating system against these threats.

Information Services use a systems management software product called Systems Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM) to deploy these patches.

This product works only with Microsoft operating systems. Macintosh operating systems are not supported by this product.

Note: Patching the operating system is different to running anti-virus software: both are required to have a secure environment.

User Instructions for SCCM

1. If you computer requires any updates then a notification icon will appear in the system tray (bottom right hand corner of your screen), next to the clock: 
2. There is a 99 minute countdown which will occur before the updates start to install.
3. During this time you can postpone the updates by clicking on the notification icon and selecting postpone.
4. You can only postpone the updates for 14 days.
5. To start the installation straight away, double click the notification icon and select install.
6. You can close the Systems Centre Configuration Manager (SCCM) window at any time to continue working.
7. When the updates have been installed you may get a message asking you to restart your computer.
8. Save all your work, close down any open applications and restart your computer.

Should you have any queries, then please email Academic IT Support on academicitsupport@northampton.ac.uk