Securing Applications on Your Mac is About to Get Easier

We are excited to introduce a secure and user-friendly solution for keeping your essential applications up to date, called “macOS Application Patching.” macOS Application Patching will automatically update your essential Mac applications with the latest security patches and features, minimizing disruptions to your workflow while keeping them up to date. 

What is it and how does it work?

macOS Application Patching is powered by the existing management service, Jamf. It runs seamlessly in the background and will not force-quit open applications. If the application is open when an update is available, you’ll receive a notification prompting you to quit it. You can close the application at your earliest convenience to complete the update. Notifications are sent through the Jamf Self Service application to inform you when updates are available or have been completed.

Here’s an example of a Microsoft Outlook update notification.

Here are some highlights: 

• Supported Applications: macOS Application Patching keeps these supported applications up to date: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word), Slack, Zoom, and Google Chrome.
• Minimal Disruptions: Updates occur quietly in the background, allowing you to stay focused on your work.
• No Forced Quits: If you’re working in an application when an update is ready, it will not force-quit the application. The system will notify you to close the application at your convenience to complete the update.
• Weekly Reminders: If an update isn’t completed, you’ll receive a gentle reminder once a week until the update is completed.
• Focus-Friendly Notifications: If Focus mode is enabled, notifications will stay hidden until you’re ready to view them.
• Self Service Option: You can manually install or update managed applications through the Self Service application. Updates typically take 15–50 seconds, depending on the application. If you prefer to manually update through the application, that option is also supported.
• Automatic Retries: The system automatically retries updates if they fail, ensuring a seamless experience.

When will the automated patching begin?

University IT (UIT) is rolling out macOS Application Patching in a two-phase approach.

• During the week of October 21: UIT will begin rolling out the solution specifically for macOS systems to individuals in Business Affairs.
• During the week of October 27: UIT will complete the rollout of macOS systems for the rest of the university.

What to expect for the initial update 

When application patching is first enabled on your macOS system, you may receive multiple "stacked" notifications prompting you to quit applications to allow updates to be installed. This occurs when supported applications are open and patching is needed. If this occurs, click on the top notification to expand and view all notifications in the stack. Once the initial updates have completed, notifications will stabilize, and you'll only receive notifications when new versions are available.

Learn more

Visit the macOS Application Patching UIT page for more information and FAQs.

Questions and support 

If you have questions or require further assistance, please submit a Help request.