Integrating AI Copilot with Automation Profiles & Patch Management in Atera

At a glance

Atera’s AI Copilot does not replace Automation Profiles or Patch Management. Instead, it operates alongside existing RMM workflows by assisting technicians with script creation, diagnostics, summaries, and execution support—while automation logic, approvals, and schedules remain fully controlled by administrators.

The reality of automation and patching in Atera

Automation and patch management are foundational components of Atera’s RMM platform. They are designed to execute predictable, repeatable actions across devices—such as software updates, maintenance scripts, and remediation tasks—based on rules defined by IT teams.

AI Copilot does not alter this architecture.
Automation Profiles, Patch Management policies, and Thresholds continue to function exactly as configured.

What AI Copilot introduces is assistance, not control.

Where AI Copilot sits in Atera’s automation framework

Atera separates decision-making from execution.

• Execution happens through Automation Profiles, Patch Management, and Threshold rules
• Assistance happens through AI Copilot

AI Copilot does not run scheduled tasks on its own and does not approve patches. It operates in technician-initiated workflows and supports actions that are already permitted by role-based access control.

Automation Profiles: what actually integrates with Copilot

Script creation and preparation

AI Copilot can be used inside the Script Editor to generate scripts from plain-language instructions. These scripts:

• are saved to My Scripts
• must be reviewed by a technician
• can be manually added to Automation Profiles
• can be enabled (or not enabled) for AI Copilot or IT Autopilot use

Once added to an Automation Profile, the script behaves like any other scheduled task.
AI Copilot does not modify its schedule, scope, or execution conditions.

Script execution and feedback

When automation profiles run:

• script execution results are logged
• success or failure is recorded per device
• outputs appear in Patch & Automation Feedback reports

AI Copilot does not alter these logs.
It can assist technicians in reviewing outcomes, but the data itself is generated by the automation engine.

Patch Management: a defined, rule-based system

Atera’s patch management follows a structured lifecycle:

1. Patch discovery
2. Approval (manual or policy-based)
3. Deployment
4. Reporting and feedback

This process remains unchanged with AI Copilot enabled.

What Copilot can do

• assist technicians in understanding patch-related device states
• help create remediation scripts for patch failures
• support troubleshooting when devices fail to update

What Copilot does not do

• approve patches
• schedule patch deployment
• override patch policies
• deploy patches autonomously

Patch behavior is always governed by Patch Management settings and Automation Profiles.

How Patch & Automation feedback fits into the workflow

Atera provides multiple operational reports related to automation and patching, including:

• Patch Status Summary
• Patch & Automation Feedback
• Patch Search & Deploy
• Script Output reports

These reports are generated by the RMM engine.
AI Copilot does not change the underlying reporting logic.

Technicians can use Copilot to help interpret outcomes, but reporting accuracy and data integrity come from the platform itself.

Using Copilot responsibly with automation

Atera’s documentation emphasizes human oversight:

• all scripts must be reviewed before use
• automation profiles are created and assigned manually
• script permissions are role-based
• execution is logged and auditable

AI Copilot operates only within these boundaries.

This design ensures that automation remains predictable, repeatable, and compliant—especially in MSP environments managing multiple customers.

MSP and internal IT usage patterns

MSP environments

• automation profiles are reused across customers
• scripts are centrally governed
• patch policies enforce consistency
• Copilot assists with script generation and troubleshooting, not execution authority

Internal IT teams

• automation supports maintenance at scale
• patching follows corporate schedules
• Copilot helps reduce manual scripting effort
• access and execution rights remain role-controlled

In both cases, Copilot functions as a tool, not a decision-maker.

Governance, permissions, and accountability

All automation and patching activity in Atera is governed by:

• role-based permissions
• script execution rights
• automation profile assignment
• audit logs and activity logs

AI Copilot cannot bypass these controls.

Every action—whether manual or automated—is recorded with technician identity, device context, and execution outcome.

What this integration actually delivers

• Faster script creation without changing automation rules
• Clear separation between assistance and execution
• Predictable patching with better troubleshooting support
• No hidden automation, no silent approvals

Atera’s approach keeps automation stable while making it easier for technicians to work with it.

Keep automation predictable. Make preparation faster→ See how AI Copilot supports Atera automation in 30 minutes.

FAQs

How does AI Copilot interact with Automation Profiles in Atera?

AI Copilot can assist technicians during the script creation and preparation stage, but Automation Profiles themselves operate independently. Once a script is created—either manually or with Copilot assistance—it behaves like any other script in Atera. The Automation Profile determines when, where, and how the script runs. AI Copilot does not modify Automation Profile schedules, targets, or execution logic.

Can AI Copilot automatically add scripts to Automation Profiles?

No. Scripts generated using AI Copilot are saved to My Scripts and must be manually assigned to Automation Profiles by a technician with the appropriate permissions. There is no documented capability for Copilot to attach scripts to profiles automatically or alter existing profiles.

Does enabling AI Copilot change how Patch Management works?

No. Patch Management in Atera continues to function exactly as configured. Patch discovery, approval rules, deployment schedules, and reboot behavior are governed by Patch Management settings and Automation Profiles. Enabling AI Copilot does not change patch workflows, approvals, or enforcement mechanisms.

Can AI Copilot approve or deploy patches on its own?

No. Patch approval and deployment remain administrative actions. AI Copilot does not approve patches, trigger deployments, or override patch policies. All patching actions must be explicitly defined and approved through Patch Management configuration.

How does AI Copilot help when patches fail or remain pending?

When patch deployments fail or devices remain non-compliant, technicians can use AI Copilot to assist with diagnosis and remediation preparation, such as generating scripts to resolve common blockers (for example, service restarts or disk cleanup). Any remediation script must still be reviewed, approved, and executed according to existing automation or manual workflows.

Where are automation and patch execution results recorded?

Execution results are recorded through Atera’s standard reporting and logging mechanisms, including:

• Patch Status Summary reports
• Patch & Automation Feedback reports
• Script execution summaries
• Agent activity logs

AI Copilot does not replace or alter these records. The data shown in reports comes directly from the RMM engine.

Can AI Copilot access Patch & Automation Feedback reports?

Yes, technicians can use AI Copilot to assist with reviewing and understanding outcomes, but the report content itself is generated by Atera’s reporting system. AI Copilot does not generate, modify, or suppress report data.

Is human approval required for scripts created by AI Copilot?

Yes. Atera documentation explicitly advises that all generated scripts must be reviewed and tested before deployment. Scripts must be manually saved, categorized, and—if required—explicitly enabled for AI Copilot or IT Autopilot use.

Can AI Copilot execute scripts created by technicians?

AI Copilot can only execute scripts that:

• already exist in the script library, and
• have been explicitly enabled for AI Copilot or IT Autopilot use

Execution rights are still governed by role-based permissions and script settings. Copilot cannot execute scripts that are not approved.

Are automation and patch actions executed by Copilot logged?

Yes. Any script execution—whether manual, scheduled, or AI-assisted—is logged in the same way as technician actions. Logs include device context, execution status, timestamps, and results. This ensures accountability and traceability.

Can AI Copilot change existing Automation Profiles or Patch Policies?

No. AI Copilot does not create, edit, or delete Automation Profiles or Patch Management policies. Those actions require explicit technician or administrator input through the platform UI.

How does this integration benefit MSPs without increasing risk?

For MSPs, the benefit lies in reducing manual effort during preparation, not execution. Scripts can be created faster, troubleshooting is supported, and reporting remains consistent—while customer isolation, permissions, and approval controls remain unchanged.

How does this integration benefit internal IT teams?

Internal IT teams gain faster script preparation and easier troubleshooting support without compromising governance. Automation schedules, patching rules, and auditability remain fully controlled by IT administrators.

Does AI Copilot introduce autonomous automation into Atera?

No. Based on verified documentation, AI Copilot operates as an assistant, not an autonomous executor. All automation and patching actions remain rule-driven and human-approved.