In patch management, what does the term "rolling upgrades" refer to?

In the context of patch management, "rolling upgrades" refers to the phased deployment of updates across systems. This approach allows updates to be introduced progressively, which can minimize downtime and reduce the risk of widespread issues that could arise from implementing updates all at once. By upgrading a portion of the systems first, organizations can monitor the effects of the changes and address any potential problems before applying the updates more broadly. This strategy is particularly beneficial in complex environments where maintaining system availability is critical.

Rolling upgrades can also facilitate easier recovery if something goes wrong, as only a subset of systems is initially exposed to the new updates. This approach contrasts with methods requiring all systems to be updated simultaneously, which can be more disruptive and riskier for overall operations.