Summary
UCO workstation computers are occasionally restarted during maintenance periods. These restarts, sometimes called reboots, help keep your computer up-to-date and protected from malware. The monthly maintenance schedule is available online for your review.
Body
Description
Scheduling UCO computer restarts ahead of scheduled maintenance helps keep the UCO digital environment secure, stable, and up-to-date.
Benefits of restarting UCO computer workstations include:
- Security
- Software vendors release security patches, which often require your computer to restart before they can take effect. The most common occurrence of this is known as Microsoft’s “Patch Tuesday”. This is typically the second Tuesday of each month.
- Apple also releases regular security patches for Mac OS.
- Operating System Upgrades
- Windows has moved to a “Software as a Service” model. This means that instead of major operating system upgrades every few years (i.e., Windows 7 to Windows 10), Windows will receive smaller, incremental updates approximately once a month. In addition to security and bug fixes, these upgrades add new functionality and features to Windows. In order for these updates to process, a restart is required. View more information on Windows Updates and Servicing Milestones.
- Apple releases updates to Mac OS on an annual basis.
- Application Deployments
- On occasion, UCO IT will deploy new applications. Restarts are not always required, but preparing your computer for a reboot is the most important thing you can do to protect your work during application deployments.
Instructions
When you are finished using a UCO computer, please take the following steps to ensure the computer is prepared for monthly maintenance:
- Save all of your work.
- Close all applications.
- Log out of your computer. (Instructions for logging out on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Mac OS. are below.)
Log Out Procedures
Windows 10
Click the Windows icon, click your User Icon, and click Sign Out
Windows 11
Click the User icon, and click Sign Out
Mac OS
Click the Apple icon then click Log Out.
Related Information
Monthly maintenance schedule: calendar.uco.edu
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