By installing an update in a test environment first, you can assess its impact before you decide whether to deploy it to your production systems. This approach can prevent unplanned downtime and lost productivity.
To test the updates that you plan to deploy to the network, set up a test environment of computers that use the software to be updated, as well as other applications used in your environment. You can create multiple test computer groups that use different configurations that resemble the computers in different departments in your organization. After the updates have passed your test process, you can deploy the updates to the rest of the computers.
Set up a test environment for updates
| Step | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Create a custom computer group or groups to use as a test environment. |
WSUS Step by Step Guide |
|
|
Move some representative computers into the test group or groups. |
WSUS Step by Step Guide |
Additional references
For more information about how to set up and use a test environment for updates, see the WSUS Deployment Guide at