August 2026 Patch Tuesday: What to Patch First
On August 11, 2026, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security posted several advisories. Here is how to rank your security patches in 30 minutes a month.
A fresh wave of advisories
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security posted several alerts. Two matter to most small businesses. One covers Microsoft's monthly rollup of patches (AV26-804). The other covers Ivanti products (AV26-805).
The same day brought advisories for Red Hat, Siemens and SAP. Those often target stacks that are less common in a small business. An AMD advisory also appeared (AV26-800). It may apply widely, but it usually arrives as a firmware or BIOS update from your hardware maker and is typically lower priority than OS patches.
Why this week matters
A patch closes a security hole. A hole is a door an attacker can push open. Once an advisory goes public, attackers know what to look for. They scan the internet for machines that have not been patched.
Picture a six-person garage. The front-desk computer still runs the June update. That computer opens email and invoices. It is the target.
The order to patch in
You cannot do everything at once. Here is a simple order.
- Windows first. The August rollup touches almost every computer you own. Apply it first. Then check Microsoft 365 Apps and Office for any security updates available in your update channel.
- Remote access tools next. If you use Ivanti (VPN, device management), advisory AV26-805 applies to you. These tools open a direct door onto your network.
- Browsers after that. Chrome, Edge and Firefox often update on their own. Check anyway.
- Everything else last. Printers, routers, line-of-business software.
How to check without losing a day
Set a fixed time each month. The Wednesday after Patch Tuesday works well. Many updates, especially OS and driver updates, require a restart to complete. Plan restarts to ensure patches take effect.
Keep a list of your devices. A simple table is enough. Computer name, system, last update. Without a list, a forgotten machine becomes the weak link.
Test before you deploy everywhere, if you can. A 12-person accounting firm does not want its payroll software crashing one morning. Apply to one computer, check it, then roll out the rest.
When a patch breaks something
Sometimes a patch breaks a feature. It is rare, but it happens. That is why a solid backup matters. If an update goes wrong, you roll back.
It is also why remote monitoring helps. A monitoring tool checks the state of each computer and applies patches without you running from desk to desk.
What it looks like in practice
A clinic with eight computers has no technician on site. Staff care for patients, not servers. Without a routine, updates pile up. One month behind becomes six. A six-month gap is an open invitation.
A monthly routine changes that. Do a 30-minute check-in each month, keep automatic updates on, and be ready to push critical out-of-band updates when needed.
If you would rather we handle patching for you, tell us about your computers. We set up the routine and watch it.
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