The Main Point

On the second Tuesday of every month, Microsoft publishes its newest security patches. This day is often called Patch Tuesday. The Chief Information Office will release an update message every Patch Tuesday. Please note that CIO may also issue communications, as needed, to inform users about other critical patches published by a different vendor.

What You Need To Know

Today, April 14, 2020, Microsoft released the newest security risks update associated with Microsoft Windows.

This month’s vulnerability includes numerous critical security and non-security updates for all Microsoft Windows operating systems, Office, Dynamics and Internet Explorer. These updates will require a restart after installation. These patches must be installed before April 28, 2020. After that date, unpatched systems may be blocked from the network. Please note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture must implement this update within the update window without exception. Your computer must be powered on and connected to the USDA Forest Service network either in the office or through the virtual private network (eVPN) to receive the patch.

What You Need To Do

To receive the Microsoft update, leave your computer powered on and connected to the Forest Service network after work hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. (the time zone is relative to your location). 

The Microsoft update must be installed on all USDA servers, desktops, laptops and tablets that run the appropriate Windows operating system. 

• To receive the critical update, your computer must be connected to the Forest Service network by ethernet (hard-wired), wi-fi (Forest Service wireless), or eVPN. 
• If taking your computer to a location requiring eVPN, please connect through eVPN, log in and then lock your computer.
• After the installation, it may be necessary to restart your computer. Please note that it will automatically restart after four hours.
• If you are logged on to the Forest Service network, you may receive a pop-up notification in the lower right corner of the system tray during the installation. If the pop-up indicates that a restart is needed, save your work and restart as soon as possible.
• The update will install if your computer is on and connected to the network; you do not need to be logged on. You may receive a pop-up notification directing you to restart when you log back in—please do so before starting other work. If you don’t restart within four hours of the install, your computer will automatically restart.

Computers that don’t receive the update may need to be separated from the network for security purposes. Therefore, CIO is asking that you make every attempt to get your computer updated immediately by following the instructions listed above.

For more information about Microsoft Security Update, please access the following documents:

• Instructions: How to Verify That a Computer Has Received a Required Microsoft Security Update
• Frequently Asked Questions for Microsoft Security Update

If you have any questions, please contact the Customer Help Desk.

Help is Available

For technical help call the Customer Help Desk at 1-866-945-1354 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339), start a chat with an agent, or type the full Knowledge Base Article number or “keywords” in double quotes into the Search box on the Customer Help Desk site to find helpful knowledge management documents.

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