Jun

How to keep your SI computer updated (Hint: Reboot!)

If the first question every computer tech gets is, “Why isn’t my computer working?” (Is it plugged in?), the second is, “Why is my computer acting so weird?” (Have you updated it? Ever?) The Office of of the Chief Information Officer has some simple tips to keep the ghost out of the machine.

All Smithsonian computers (Macs and PCs) are sent regular security updates to ensure the device is protected from the latest security threats and installed with the latest bug fixes and features. In order to receive these updates, you need to do two things regularly:

Leave your computer on (especially at night)
Reboot often

Leaving your computer on after your workday is finished allows the computer to receive updates automatically when you are not actively using it. Doing this after-hours avoids creating a disruption for you during the workday with a forced reboot.

Why is a reboot necessary?

A critical part of the update process requires that your computer restart to fully-install any security patches or vulnerability fixes. Smithsonian computers will prompt you when it needs to perform a reboot to install these updates. You should reboot as soon as possible, but you can delay this reboot for a period of time, to allow you to control when the reboot occurs. After a certain number of days of ignoring the prompts to reboot, your computer will restart automatically.

Why do I need to leave my computer on at night?

Most software updates and maintenance actions are programmed to run after-hours. These “maintenance windows” occur overnight to prevent disrupting your productivity. If your computer is turned off, you will not receive these important software updates. Updates that cannot be installed at night will run during the workday, likely disrupting your work.

Is this advice the same when teleworking?

This advice applies to all computers both on campus and while teleworking. For remote workers using an SI-issued laptop, you should also periodically connect your laptop to the F5 VPN and allow it to stay connected overnight. This will ensure that your computer not only receives all the security updates but that network credentials stay synced.

Does this apply to my personal computer I use to telework?

Installing updates and regular reboots are critical to keeping your computer running at peak performance and prompted from vulnerabilities. The Office of the Chief Information Officer recommends that you turn on automatic updating for any device (laptop, desktop, tablet, phone) that you own. With ever increasing cybersecurity threats to computer systems and networks, your number one defense is ensuring your devices have the latest updates.

Additional Resources

For additional help, please refer to the following knowledgebase articles.

Help!

If you have any questions or are having a computer issue, contact the OCIO Service Desk, OCIO, x3-4000 (VoIP), 202-633-4000 (non-VoIP), or OCIOServiceDesk@si.edu.