The Glamorous Life of a Systems Engineer (SE)

Hello World!

Hey CrowdStrike users, how do you feel about software updates? – Yeah, I thought so. All updates, even scheduled maintenance, should be approached with some degree of trepidation. New features and “bug fixes” that you weren’t even aware of, may in fact improve your system’s performance. However, you could also be opening Pandora’s box – who knows what might happen next.

How long has it been since your last major networking or security software update? Most vendors have several major releases, and countless minor updates every year. Why? Well, there are many reasons: feature creep, security flaws, bug fixes, compatibility adventures, or just because they can. If you, in fact, need one of these new features or fixes, then you certainly should plan for a timely update. If not, then you can proceed in a much more leisurely fashion.

But, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Some of the worst possible reasons for updates include, “the vendor said that I should”, or “I’m just following the trends.” As CrowdStrike reminded us, updates can be quite perilous. For example, an update that promises faster performance can turn your entire system into a veritable sloth. Or worse.

CQ’s rule: Don’t rush into unnecessary updates or upgrades. Unless you desperately need a particular feature, don’t volunteer to basically beta test a vendor’s newest software release. Let someone else, perhaps your competitors, be the guinea pigs. And after a few months, when you do finally decide to update/upgrade, plan carefully and always have a fallback plan. Don’t get CrowdStruck.

Stay tuned for more nerdy columns about my experiences as an SE.