Keeping your SQL Servers up to date can be a real pain, especially with how frequently Microsoft releases cumulative updates (CUs). But staying current is critical — not just for performance, but for security compliance and reducing your vulnerability to known exploits.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to automatically find the latest patch level for your SQL Server instances using a simple and powerful PowerShell tool: DBA Tools.
Why Patching Is Important
Patching your SQL Servers isn’t just about improving performance or fixing bugs — it’s about staying secure. Outdated instances can be vulnerable to attacks, and without knowing your current patch level, it’s easy to fall behind.
Using Test-DbaBuild from DBA Tools
DBA Tools includes a command called Test-DbaBuild, which allows you to check the current patch level of any SQL instance against the latest available version.
You can easily run the command across multiple servers. Here’s how it works:
Test-DbaBuild -SqlInstance "YourServerName" -UpdateMake sure to include the -Update flag — this ensures you’re checking against the most up-to-date reference. Without it, you may miss newly released patches (learned this the hard way!).
You’ll get useful output like:
- Instance name
- Current version
- Build target
- Whether it’s compliant (True/False)
This gives you a quick way to identify which servers need patching.
Automate Your Patch Monitoring
You can schedule this script to run:
- Daily or weekly using Task Scheduler
- And even email results for monitoring (future video coming on this!)
This way, you’re always aware when a server falls behind.
Where to Find Patch Details
Once you’ve identified what build you need, here’s where to find the correct patch version:
🛠️ Option 1: DBA Tools Build Reference
Navigate to the correct SQL Server version and see the latest CU listed right at the top.
🛠️ Option 2: Brent Ozar’s SQL Server Patch Page
A great site for staying up to date — many DBAs subscribe here for early patch notifications.
🛠️ Option 3: Microsoft’s SQL Server Update Catalog
If you prefer to go directly to the source, Microsoft lists the official patch releases and dates.
Stay Secure with Automation
By using Test-DbaBuild and automating this process, you take the guesswork out of patching. It’s a reliable and repeatable way to keep SQL Server secure, compliant, and running smoothly.
In an upcoming post, we’ll cover how to patch your SQL Servers directly and even automate the entire process with DBA Tools.
Thanks for reading — make sure to subscribe or check out the blog for more SQL Server and DBA automation tips.
Good shout.
Much appreciated *thumbs up*