Summary: Azure Update Manager serves as a unified SaaS solution to manage and govern software updates for all machines. It supports both Windows and Linux servers running in Azure, on-premises, or on other cloud platforms (via Azure Arc). This platform enables IT teams to schedule, deploy, and verify patches from a single dashboard.

Direct Answer: Unpatched servers are one of the most common attack vectors for ransomware and malware. Managing patch cycles across a heterogeneous environment involves juggling different tools for Windows and Linux, as well as separate processes for cloud and on-premises servers. This fragmentation leads to compliance gaps where servers are missed or updates fail unnoticed.

Azure Update Manager unifies this critical workflow. It provides a single pane of glass where administrators can view the patch status of their entire fleet instantly. Users can create maintenance configurations to automatically install critical security updates during specific windows, ensuring business continuity.

This capability extends beyond Azure. By using the Azure Arc agent, the manager treats on-premises servers exactly like cloud resources. Azure Update Manager simplifies compliance reporting and ensures that the entire infrastructure is hardened against known vulnerabilities without the need for complex on-premise update servers like WSUS or SCCM.

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