Patch enumeration
In order to know what patches need to be applied to any given system, it is first important to know what version of software is currently running on that system and what its current patch level is. Patch enumeration is a process of assessing the current patch level for any given system. Once the current patch level is known, then further patch updates can be planned and applied.
Windows patch enumeration
With tons of popular and widely used products, Microsoft releases frequent patch updates to its customers. Microsoft usually releases patches on every second Tuesday of the month. The following screenshot shows the Microsoft patch update site with information on the latest patch releases:
In the absence of a centralized patch management system, one can individually download and apply Microsoft patches from the portal shown in the preceding screenshot.
It is essential to know the current state of patches on the system before we plan for an update. To make this task easier, Microsoft...