---
type: concept
title: Update Service
tags: [maintenance, software, urz, infrastructure, bandwidth-optimization]
related: [universitatsrechenzentrum-urz, wsus, apt-proxy, campus-it]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-06-30
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_sonstiges.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_sonstiges_update_service.md"]
---
# Update Service

The **Update Service** is a maintenance service and centralized infrastructure provided by the [[universitatsrechenzentrum-urz]] to ensure that university systems remain current and secure, and to manage the distribution of software updates across the [[campus-it]] environment.

## Purpose and Benefits
The primary goal of a centralized update service is to ensure that all university-managed devices are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches and software versions. Key benefits include:

- **Bandwidth Optimization**: By caching updates locally, the university reduces the amount of external internet traffic required to update hundreds or thousands of machines.
- **Centralized Management**: The URZ can monitor and control the rollout of updates across the network.

## Implementations
The service is implemented differently based on the target operating system:

- **Windows**: Utilizes [[wsus]].
- **Linux (Debian/Ubuntu)**: Utilizes [[apt-proxy]].