Patent attributes
A method for updating software in one or more servers in a managed system includes bootstrapping of shared secrets to secure communication, using an object store with publicly accessible URLs as a mailbox system between a patch agent locally at the managed system and a patch management server located remotely. The object store provides for indirect and asynchronous communication, allowing the patch management server to manage the updates, whereas the patch agent executes the updates. The patch management server keeps track of update results, and when an update is unsuccessful it performs and supports a remediation process. Both the patch agent and the patch management server keep full logs of the update results to allow for auditing.