SAS Computing has two strong recommendations to maintain your computer's best performance: restart routinely and run updates promptly.

 

Restart Your Computer Regularly

SAS Computing recommends that you restart your computer on a regular basis. From time to time, Microsoft or Apple will issue a critical update that you need to install on your computer to keep it secure. Once installed, you will see a message on your machine letting you know that a reboot (ie, a restart) is required to get the update. But you don't have to wait for those messages -- we recommend a full restart once or twice per month.

To safely restart a Windows computer

1. Save and close all files and applications
2. Open the Start menu and click on the Power icon
3. Click on the Restart option
4. Wait for the computer to power cycle and return to the login screen to sign in again
   
   

To safely restart a Mac computer

1. Save and close all files and applications
2. Click on the Apple icon in the upper-left corner (Apple Menu) and select Restart
3. Wait for the computer to power cycle and return to the login screen to signin again.
   
   

A clean restart will keep your computer at its best. Try to build a computer restart into your routine by making it your last action at the end of a workday when convenient for you.

 

Run Updates Promptly, and then Restart

Computing also strongly recommends a proactive approach to checking for and running updates. After you receive a message that an update is available, please run it as soon as possible.

On Windows, a small update icon can appear in the lower-right corner and prompt to run updates.

On Mac, click on the Apple icon > Check for updates to open System Preferences.

Usually after you run updates, the computer will need a restart for the updates to take effect.

SAS Computing also has several tools to assist users in keeping their machines up to date by sending updates which will prompt for when it is time to restart.

Nudge is an application managed by SAS Computing to inform users about MacOS updates or upgrades available for your Apple devices. When Apple pushes out new macOS updates and they are approved for use with Penn systems, a Nudge window will be sent to all SAS Mac devices. SAS Computing is deploying Nudge widely as a way to keep Apple computers up to date with necessary security patches. 

BigFix is another application managed by SAS Computing that is used to push security patches and updates to Penn machines. For more information about the BigFix Self-Service Application through which updates and other installations can prompt, please see here.

For more Computing Information and Recommendations, please see here.

If you have any questions, please contact your local support person here.