Automating virtual machine management
Virtual machines are part of the IaaS family of components. One of the defining features of VMs in Azure is that you are responsible for keeping the OS up to date with the latest security patches.
In an on-premise environment, this could be achieved by manually configuring individual servers to apply updates as they become available; however, in many organizations, more control is required; such as, for example, the ability to have patches verified and approved before mass roll out to production systems, control when they happen, and control reboots when required.
Typically, this could be achieved using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and Configuration Manager, part of the Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite of products. However, these services require additional management and setup, which can be time-consuming.
As with most services, Azure helps simplify managing VM updates with a native Update Management service. Update Management uses...
