Docs → Guides & how-tos
Maintenance windows & planned work
Why planned maintenance happens, how you hear about it first, and what to do if something misbehaves afterward.
Last updated: August 2026
At a glance
- Planned work is announced to your contacts first
- Blackout periods? Tell us — we plan around them
- Critical security patches can move faster — with notice
- Broke after maintenance? Say so — timing is gold
Why maintenance happens
Patches, updates, and hardware refreshes are how systems stay secure and boring. Skipping maintenance does not avoid disruption — it defers it to the worst possible moment and adds an attacker to the meeting.
How a window unfolds
1
You hear first
What is changing, when, and what — if anything — users will notice. No surprises is the standard we hold ourselves to.
2
During the window
Brief slowdowns or restarts of the named systems are normal. Anything outside what was announced is not — report it.
3
Afterward
Systems verified, window closed. If something misbehaves later, mention the timing — “after last night’s maintenance” narrows the search enormously.
Note: emergencies trump schedules. When active exploitation is in play, patching fast beats patching politely — and you hear about it as it happens, not after.
Common questions
Can we ask you to avoid certain times?+
Yes. Tell us your blackout periods — payroll runs, seasonal crunch, big demos — and we plan around them.
Do critical security patches wait for a window?+
Not always. When active exploitation is in play, patching fast beats patching politely — we tell you when that trade is being made.
Something broke right after maintenance. Coincidence?+
Maybe, maybe not — tell us either way and mention the timing. Recency is one of the most useful diagnostic facts there is.
Related docs
Incident response →
When something is wrong outside any window.
Support escalation →
How to push when something feels stuck.
Backup & restore →
The safety net under every change we make.
Have blackout dates we should know about?
Tell us once and they go on the calendar for every future window.