Patching Restart Prompt

mackenzie
mackenzie Member Posts: 2 ✭
in Patch Management

How do you notify users that their computer needs to be rebooted for updates? We've found that the Configuration Policy to "Allow end users to control device restarts" leaves a lot to be desired for user experience. Primarily around the lack of clarity for end users as to how many prompts are remaining until the restart is required, some sort of count down or explanation in addition to the static message. We could remove the "Force restart after X prompts" flag to skip forcing restarts but then end up with users ignoring the message for weeks. Have you found success with other solutions or reverting to device settings?

Referring to this notification and configuration;

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Comments

  • NetRambler
    NetRambler Member Posts: 2 ✭

    A countdown option would be ideal! And I'd rather the buttons were swapped over so the one on the left is the Restart option.

    Ultimately, though, what you want is for the user to restart and you can tweak your messages to drive that behavior. Nudge theory, and all that.

    Instead of focusing on what's in it for IT ("IT wants to interrupt your day and restart your computer"), you can make it more about benefits for the user and making the message easier for them to interpret ("If you restart, here's what's in it for you").

    Try something like this:

    Title: Keep your PC fast and secure

    Message: Updates are ready. Restart your PC now to secure your data and improve performance. You can restart now or dismiss this message (max. 3 times).

    New title is active and tells the user what their benefit is (original was passive and "so what-ish"). New message gives an instruction to the user to restart to benefit from better security and performance, rather than saying that IT wants something with no stated benefit for the user.

    Scoring readability (shorter and easier to read = less intrusion on the user's day, easier for them to get their heads around what they need to do): your current message gets a Flesch-Kinkaid Grade Level of 13.08 (college degree). The alternative above gets 4.78 (4th-5th grade).

  • gilgi
    gilgi Administrator, Moderator, Internal Posts: 248 admin
    https://community.atera.com/discussion/comment/2748#Comment_2748

    This is GOLDEN stuff right here!
    Very positive and hands-on approach @NetRambler

    Educating doesn't have to be technical. Putting in the value first and keeping things simple helps engrain security, hardware and software management, and any area, really.

  • NetRambler
    NetRambler Member Posts: 2 ✭

    Or even:

    Updates are ready. Restart your PC now to secure your data and improve performance. You can dismiss this message for 2 hours (8 hours max).

    Tells the user how long they can buy with a Dismiss and creates a sense of "I may as well do it now then".

    Hopefully!

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