Starting Tuesday, October 18, DoIT Departmental Support will begin deploying software called Nudge to Apple computers. We have been testing it internally and will be deploying it in waves over the coming weeks.
What does Nudge do?
Keeping macOS up to date is currently a user-driven process. Due to changes in macOS, users need to manually check for updates, authorize them to run, and reboot the computers. This isn’t great for anybody – the user or us. When updates are not kept current, our ability to secure the computers is diminished.
Nudge is an application that enables DS to set a specified macOS version. Any computer that is lower than that version will get a pop-up (pictured below) prompting the user to begin the update process.
What if I’m in the middle of something?
We recognize that performing an update in the middle of the day isn’t always possible. Luckily, Nudge allows a user to defer the update process for up to seven days. Given enough deferrals, however, Nudge will blur the screen and get more persistent. An example of what that will look like is below. We recommend deferring the update until it is convenient to run, such as at the end of the day or over the weekend, being mindful of the remaining time the update process can be deferred.
Do I need administrative rights to run updates?
If your computer has been properly configured to allow user-based updates, you will not need admin rights to run updates for your current version of macOS. DS technicians have identified computers that are not configured to allow user-based updates. Nudge will not be installed on these systems until that configuration is corrected.
Please note that upgrades to new major macOS versions (such as Ventura, releasing October 2022), will still require admin rights or assistance from DS.
When will Nudge be installed on my computer?
We will be deploying Nudge in several waves. You can expect to receive it sometime over the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please contact Departmental Support via the DoIT Help Desk at support@doit.wisc.edu or 608-264-4357.