Patch – Configuration with Ivanti EPM

Patch Configuration Ivanti – update security bulletins, create groups (_NewPatch, L1, L2), scopes, and rollout projects. Workflow

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Patch Configuration Ivanti – Before any security vulnerability detection on systems, the LANDesk Security Suite must be updated with security bulletins. These bulletins will be downloaded from a database hosted by LANDesk.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Patch Configuration Ivanti – Unlike a traditional WSUS, EPM allows for managing patches from “standard” publishers.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Patch Configuration Ivanti screenshot

Downloading Definitions

Creating Groups

Patch Configuration Ivanti – We will create multiple groups to manage the approval of patches and pilot terminals.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

  • In “Patch and Compliance” “Public Custom Groups”, we will create the following groups:
    • _NewPatches => For new patches awaiting validation
    • L1 => For technical recipe testing of patches on a small group of terminals
    • L2 => For widespread deployment
Group management interface for patch compliance

Creating Scopes

Patch Configuration Ivanti – We will create scopes that will be associated with the groups, consisting of:

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

  • L1_PilotTerminals
  • L2_Widespread
Scopes creation interface for patch management

Creating Rollout Projects

Rollout Projects

  • In “Rollout Projects”, we will initiate a new project
Rollout projects creation interface
  • The project will involve three key steps:
    • Patch validation => _NewPatch (need validation)
    • Technical recipe transition => Move Patch To L1
    • Broaden the deployment of patches => Move Patch To L2

Step _NewPatch (Need Validation)

  • Create a new step
  • Rename it to _NewPatch (Need Validation)
Rollout project creation step
  • In Actions Tags, add a tag
Approval request interface

Patch Configuration Ivanti – Patches will be moved to L1, provided they are validated.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Step Move Patch to L1

  • Create a new step.
  • Rename it to Move Patch To L1.
  • In Actions Autofix settings, change the autofix for the L1_PilotTerminals scope.
Autofix settings interface
  • In Actions Group membership,
    • Add to the L1 group.
    • Remove from the _NewPatch group.
Group membership settings
  • In Actions Tags, we will make the following changes:
    • Add Tag_PatchL1.
    • Remove Tag_WaitValidation.
Tag settings interface
  • In Exit criteria Minimum duration,
    • Add 1 week
Exit criteria settings

Step Move Patch To L2

  • Create a new step
  • Rename it to Move Patch To L2
  • In Actions Autofix setting
    • Add the autofix for the L2_Generalisation scope
    • Remove the autofix for the L1_PilotTerminals scope
Autofix settings for L2
  • In Actions Group membership,
    • Add to the L2 group
    • Remove from the L1 group
Group membership settings for L2
  • In Actions Tags, we will add:
    • Add Tag_PatchL2
    • Remove Tag_PatchL1
Tag settings for L2

Downloading Signatures

Downloading

  • Select the “Download updates” button
Download updates button

Updates Tab

  • In Select update source site,
    • Select “Europe”
  • In Definitions,
    • At minimum, enable Microsoft vulnerabilities
  • In Definition grouping,
    • Select “unassigned”
Updates tab settings
  • Click on “Definition download settings”,
    • Apply the scan for critical and important patches (for example)

Patch Configuration Ivanti – The scan does not apply the patch but simply identifies the devices where the patches are not installed

Definition download settings

Patch Configuration IvantiATTENTION: If you want to download drivers, you must configure the HII LANDesk first (it allows configuring the location of the drivers)

Patch Location Tab

  • In this tab, indicate the UNC and HTTP paths where the patches will be copied
  • Enable automatic patch cleaning
Patch location settings

Filter Definition Tab

  • Create a new filter
  • Under the Name tab,
    • Indicate a name for this filter
Filter definition settings
  • Under the OS tab,
    • Select the OS you want to manage
OS selection for filter
  • Under the Products tab,
    • Select the applications you want to manage
Products selection for filter
  • Under the Severity tab,
    • Indicate at least Critical Patches
Severity selection for filter
  • Under the Groups tab,
    • Add patches to the _NewPatch group
Groups selection for filter
  • Under the “Rollout Project” tab,
    • Associate with the previously created Rollout Project
Rollout project association for filter

Patch Configuration Ivanti – There will be 3 tasks for patching, so you can create a folder to “organize tasks”.

“Rollout Projects”

  • If you don’t want to schedule the project, simply click the “Process selected Item Now” button
Process selected item now button
  • Otherwise, schedule the project with the Create a task button
Create a task button

Downloading Patches

  • Click on “Schedule Download” to create a scheduled task that will download new definitions.
  • You can change the task name. Click “Ok”.
Schedule download interface
  • The task is scheduled to run daily.
Daily schedule settings

Data Collection

  • Go to “Create a task Collect historical data…”
Collect historical data interface
  • Click on “Create a task”.
Create a task button

Patch Configuration Ivanti – Go to the task properties.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Task properties interface
  • The task is scheduled to run every night at 10:30 PM
Task schedule settings

How Patching Will Be Done

Downloading Patches

Patch Configuration Ivanti – This is the role of the scheduled task Download patch content.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Patch Configuration Ivanti – Once launched, the new “critical” and “important” patches will be copied to _NewPatch.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

New patches group interface

Patch Approval

Patch Configuration Ivanti – During the execution of:

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

  • The scheduled task “Rollout project task”
  • Or with the button “Process selected Item Now”

Patch Configuration Ivanti – The new patches will be in the “rollout project” awaiting validation.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Rollout project with new patches

Installation on L1 (Pilot) Group

Patch Configuration IvantiOnce the patches are validated, during the execution of:

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

  • The scheduled task “Rollout project task”
  • Or with the button “Process selected Item Now”

Patch Configuration Ivanti – The patches will move to the L1 group.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

Installation on L2 Group

Patch Configuration IvantiOnce the one-week period has passed, during the execution of:

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.

  • The scheduled task “Rollout project task”
  • Or with the button “Process selected Item Now”

Patch Configuration Ivanti – The patches will move to the L2 group.

Useful external reference: Ivanti resources.