“I thought someone else handled that” is an expensive answer when the question is whether your company installed its Microsoft security updates.
As business owners, we check that invoices get paid and payroll goes through. We should expect the same follow-through when a security update protects the computers our employees use every day.
Microsoft’s October security advisory brings that responsibility into focus. A vulnerability has already been exploited, and updates need attention now. If nobody can confirm which devices received the necessary fixes, your business has an unanswered security question.
Why October Microsoft security updates need attention
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security’s October 2026 advisory states that Microsoft confirmed exploitation of CVE-2026-96951. The advisory also says CISA added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on October 13.
That means exploitation has been observed. It does not mean every business has been compromised, but it gives owners a concrete reason to ask whether affected systems have been identified and updated.
The advisory covers vulnerabilities across numerous Microsoft products and urges users and administrators to apply necessary updates. Your IT team should determine which Microsoft security updates apply to your environment and prioritize the exploited vulnerability where relevant.
For a business owner, the immediate concern is whether the work has been completed.
Automatic Microsoft security updates still need oversight
Automatic updates help, but someone still needs to verify the result.
Microsoft explains in its Microsoft 365 Apps update documentation that detecting, downloading, and applying updates are separate steps. Applications that remain open can delay installation, and administrators can configure deadlines to ensure updates are applied.
Think about the employee who leaves Outlook open all week or the spare laptop that rarely connects. A patch management process should account for those devices and any updates still waiting to finish.
Someone needs to review installation status, investigate failures, and follow up on required restarts. Otherwise, “automatic updates are enabled” can become an assumption that nobody checks.
Patch management needs a named owner
In a growing company, technology responsibilities can fall between departments. The office manager assumes the IT provider handles updates. The provider’s agreement covers support when requested. Employees assume someone will tell them if action is needed.
Put responsibility in writing.
Effective patch management should identify who reviews Microsoft security updates, who approves deployment, and who verifies completion. It should also establish how unresolved devices get reported to management.
If you use an outside provider, check the service agreement. Ask whether patch management includes operating systems, Microsoft 365 desktop apps, servers, and other business software.
TotalBC’s Managed IT services include monitoring and patching, giving business owners a place to start when reviewing coverage.
Five patch management questions to ask this week
You do not need to become a Microsoft specialist to ask for useful answers:
- Which devices and applications need October’s Microsoft security updates?
- Where does CVE-2026-96951 apply, and has the relevant fix been verified?
- Which updates failed or remain pending, and who is resolving them?
- Are remote computers and rarely used devices included?
- Can we see a report showing completed updates and outstanding exceptions?
Ask for evidence that covers the whole business. One updated computer tells you little about the laptop a salesperson uses from home.
Your patch management process should also explain how urgent Microsoft security updates are handled between regular maintenance windows. Testing and scheduling matter, but an actively exploited vulnerability deserves prompt review and a clear decision about deployment.
Where Microsoft 365 management fits
Microsoft 365 management is part of this responsibility, alongside management of the devices and operating systems your team uses.
A Microsoft 365 subscription does not establish who checks desktop application updates, manages employee access, or reviews security settings. Those responsibilities need an owner.
When reviewing Microsoft 365 management, ask how application updates connect with device patching. Confirm who handles account changes, permissions, and protection for company email and files.
TotalBC’s Microsoft 365 management and cloud services help businesses organize and secure their Microsoft environment, with ongoing support as employees and business needs change.
Get Microsoft 365 management from TotalBC
At TotalBC, we understand that business owners need technology they can rely on without spending their day chasing update notifications.
We help businesses across North and South Carolina manage Microsoft 365, support employees, and address security responsibilities. Our team can review your setup and help clarify where Microsoft 365 management and broader patch management need attention.
Schedule your FREE Microsoft 365 management consultation with TotalBC or call 866-673-8682.
Microsoft security updates need someone checking that they actually install. Let’s make sure your business knows who that someone is.