To minimize the time it takes to manage third party software patches, you can automatically approve updates for an approval group. For example, if you want to automatically approve all patches with a severity of Critical for Workstations so that those devices are always up-to-date with the latest critical updates, you can set up automatic approval for a Workstation approval group.
To set up automatic third party software patch approval for an approval group
Automatic software approval rules run every 24 hours, but you can also follow the To run third party software patch approval rules procedure to apply those rules to patches at any time.
- In Service Center, click Advanced Software Management > Automatic Software Approval.
- Click Add.
- Select the Approval Group you want to create an approval rule for.
- In the Severities section, select the check boxes for each classification you want to automatically approve.
- Click Save.
To view the details of an automatic third party software patch approval rule
You can expand the details of approval rules created for the All Computers approval group, to display the other approval groups that inherit the rule.
- In Service Center, click Advanced Software Management > Automatic Software Approval.
- Click the arrow to expand the rule you want to view.
The approval groups and approved patch severities are displayed.
To add a severity to a third party software patch approval rule
You cannot remove a severity from a third party software patch approval rule. To remove a severity, delete the rule and create a new one.
- In Service Center, click Advanced Software Management > Automatic Software Approval.
- Click the Add button.
- Select the check box beside the approval rule that you want to apply to existing patches.
- Click Save.
To run third party software patch approval rules
Running third party software patch approval rules applies those rules to all patches. You may want to run the approval rules when you create new rules.
- In Service Center, click Advanced Software Management > Automatic Software Approval.
- Click More Actions, then click Run All Software Approval Rules.
To delete a third party patch approval rule
Deleting a third party software patch approval rule means it isn’t applied in the future, but it will not affect any patches that have already been deployed to devices.
- In Service Center, click Advanced Software Management > Automatic Software Approval.
- Select the check box beside the approval rule that you want to apply to existing patches.
- Click Delete.