---
title: Patch Tuesday Triage | Signal Desk
url: https://signal-desk-d5t.pages.dev/playbooks/patch-tuesday-triage
---

[← Playbooks](/playbooks)

# Patch Tuesday Triage

A six-step path from release-notes day to verified rollout. Work top to bottom; each step ends with a checklist.

For: Security lead, Sysadmin, Helpdesk

[1. Pull the facts](#s1)[2. Map to what you own](#s2)[3. Rank by real risk](#s3)[4. Mitigate what you can't patch today](#s4)[5. Roll out in rings](#s5)[6. Verify and close](#s6)

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Step 1 of 6

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### Pull the facts

Start from primary sources, not headlines. Open the MSRC release notes and the CISA KEV catalog side by side.

- Note every CVE Microsoft marks 'Exploitation Detected'
- Note anything publicly disclosed
- Check KEV for same-day additions and their due dates
- Record the KB numbers for each Windows build you run
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Step 2 of 6

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### Map to what you own

A critical bug in a product you don't run is noise. Match the list against your asset inventory.

- List affected products present in your estate (Exchange, AD DS, Outlook, DHCP, MSMQ, QUIC, Hyper-V)
- Flag internet-facing systems
- Flag domain controllers and identity infrastructure separately
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Step 3 of 6

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### Rank by real risk

Order: exploited and exposed → exploited internal → 'More Likely' on exposed services → everything else.

- Exploited zero-days get an emergency change
- Check whether features like the Outlook Preview Pane are an attack vector
- Write down the order and why, in one line per item
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Step 4 of 6

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### Mitigate what you can't patch today

Buy time where patching needs a maintenance window.

- Apply vendor workarounds where published
- Restrict exposure (firewall, disable unused roles like MSMQ)
- Turn on extra logging or detection for the affected component
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Step 5 of 6

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### Roll out in rings

Pilot, then broad, then the stragglers. Keep a rollback plan for domain controllers and Exchange.

- Ring 0: IT and test devices within 24 hours
- Ring 1: broad endpoints within the week
- Servers in agreed windows; DCs one at a time
- Track failed installs and reboots pending
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Step 6 of 6

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### Verify and close

A deployed patch isn't a fixed vulnerability until you've checked.

- Confirm build numbers or KBs installed via your management tool
- Rescan with your vulnerability scanner
- Hunt for signs of exploitation predating the patch on exposed systems
- Log exceptions with an owner and expiry date

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