nStar Patch
nStar's Patch service continuously monitors computers for patch compliance as well as overall performance, security, configuration and health. nStar Patch proactively alerts when new patches are required as well as when conditions require your attention so you can respond quickly before a computer fails or is out of compliance.
How It Works
After nStar Patch is installed on a computer, the service monitors patch level, security, performance, configuration and computer health around the clock. The local Sensor agent collects information continuously and communicates regularly via SSL to the nStar Expert System. The Sensor sends in any events that have occurred since the last communication, patch level and performance metrics such as CPU and page file usage, free disk space, and network throughput. For servers, nStar communicates every five minutes, workstations every hour. If nStar doesn't hear from a server for ten minutes, a critical alert is sent notifying you of a down condition, allowing you to quickly go to work to bring it back online.
The Expert System
nStar's Patch is more than a simple heartbeat monitor. Once received at the nStar Expert System, patch, event and performance information is processed by our proprietary knowledgebase. All information received by the Expert System is analyzed for fault conditions and assigned a priority code-Critical, Important, or Minor. The Expert System then adds valuable information to the alerts you receive, including potential cause, suggested resolutions, and links to online information about the issue.
Patch Reports
Patch regularly sends reports, customized to your network, so you can quickly see which computers require updates to remain up to date. These reports are generally triggered by updates released by Microsoft or other vendors or when a regular review brings up compliance issues.
Patch Deployment
Patch gives you complete control over the installation of patches. nStar's reporting keeps you to date on patch needs and the Patch deployment engine lets you control how the patches are deployed. With a few clicks your entire network is patched. No matter where the computers are!
Automatic Alerts
We designed nStar's services to work within the existing workflow of IT technicians. The nStar Expert System automatically sends critical, important and minor alerts to IT staff in real time, giving up to the minute information on the status of monitored systems. nStar's Patch Alerts are sent regularly and include specific recommendations of patches to apply to maintain desired state for each computer.
Some Example Alerts
- A disk drive is running low on space
- SQL database job failure
- A server service has crashed
- A workstation application has crashed three times in an hour
- Failed logins indicating a possible hack attempt
- A DHCP server is running short of addresses
- Exchange corruption
- Backup failure
- UPS activation
Quick Setup and Zero Maintenance
Installation takes minutes. Unlike other monitoring and management solutions, there is no configuration or maintenance for the Sensor agent and the Expert System is preprogrammed to distinguish between a normal event and an event that could have negative ramifications. In only minutes, a customer can be receiving powerful information in real time 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
nStar for Windows
nStar Patch works with all Windows computers from Windows 2000 and above as well as Small Business Server 2000 and above.
For More Information
Click here to be contacted by a NorthStar Networks salesperson to answer your questions.