# Create an Advanced Patching Strategy

{% hint style="info" %}
Creating a custom Advanced Patching Strategies is an advanced task. We strongly recommend using our [v2 Strategy template](/patch/get-started/getting-started.md) or reaching out to our [Support](https://adaptiva.com/support) team for assistance.
{% endhint %}

A Patching Strategy template contains specific fields that you can configure to make a unique Patching Strategy for your environment. Adaptiva recommends opening an existing strategy that contains most of the configuration items you want, and then saving it with a new name and description. The configuration options are the same whether you create a new strategy or modify an existing strategy.

For more information regarding templates and and a full list of settings:

* [Advanced Patching Strategies templates](/patch/patching-fundamentals/patch-strategies.md#built-in-patching-strategies)
* [Advanced Patching Strategy settings](/patch/patching-fundamentals/patch-strategies/patch-strategies-settings.md)

## Create Advanced Patching Strategy from a template

1. Select **Strategies** in the left navigation menu.
2. Select **Initial Patch Manager Approval** folder.
3. Select **Initial Approval - Immediate Mandatory Deployment** in the name column.
4. Select **More** in the upper left corner of the template, and then select **Save As**:
   1. Enter a unique name that reflects what the strategy does conceptually. For example, **Initial Approval - Immediate Mandatory Deployment - Windows**.
   2. Select **Save as**.

### General settings

1. Enter a detailed **Description** of your new template or keep the existing detail.
2. Toggle **ON** Strategy Enabled.

   ![](/files/V2Cuup5aXjUuEluGvDii)

### Products settings

1. Toggle **ON** Include All Products.
2. Toggle **OFF** Included Platforms.
3. Check **Windows**.

   ![](/files/LVPRb8B7FMdhDMHeboE6)

### Deployment Settings

1. Click **Browse** next to **Deployment Wave**.
   1. Select **Single Wave - All Clients** from the table.
   2. Click **OK**.
2. Use the default **Deployment Bot Runtimes** and **Patching Process Settings**.

   ![](/files/8wgH45BnBBaBsz95gayw)
3. Click **Save**.

## Run Strategy

Once you have completed the step above and successfully created a new Patching Strategy, you can then run your Strategy to test if any applicable patches can be deployed.

1. Select **Run Strategy** from the **More** dropdown.
2. This will run your strategy ASAP without waiting for the specified schedule.

{% hint style="info" %}
You may get receive a prompt that will say *No applicable patches for `<patchingstrategy>`*. If this is the case you will not yet see this patching strategy appear in **Approval Requests** until there is applicable patches available.

<img src="/files/vRdhVupqMYcSzeqtWJoF" alt="" data-size="original">
{% endhint %}

### Flex Controls and Approval Requests

1. Select **Advanced Settings > Flex Controls > Cycle Operations > Patching Cycles** from the side navigation.
2. In the **Running Patch Processes** table your Patching Strategy will have the *In-progress* status.
3. Select the **Approval Requests** in the left navigation menu.
4. Select your strategy from the table.
5. Select **Approve**.

   ![](/files/BBccwvBT3L9G66k2URc5)

You can wait until the patch scheduled time for deployment, or you can start the deployment manually.

## Deploy your patching strategy manually

1. Select **Flex Controls > Patching Cycles**, and then select the name of the Patching Strategy to open the **Cycle Information**.
2. Select **Play** under **Cycle Information**, and then select **Close**.
3. Select your patching strategy from the table to view details about the patching process.

## Related pages

[Flex Controls](/patch/patching-fundamentals/flex-controls.md)

[Approval Requests](/patch/patching-fundamentals/approval-requests.md)


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