Manage Freeze Windows

To manage freeze windows, use the following procedures. For more information about freeze windows, see Freeze Windows .

Create a Freeze Window

  1. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

    The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

  2. In the left navigation bar, click Freeze Windows.

    The Freeze Windows page appears.

  3. In the upper-right corner, click the New Window button.

    The New Freeze Window page appears.

  4. Configure the freeze window options as necessary:

    5. Option Description
    Name The name of the freeze window.
    Enabled

    Indicates whether the freeze window is enabled.

    • If the switch is turned on, the freeze window is enabled and any agents assigned to the freeze window are blocked from certain activities based on its schedule.

    • If the switch is turned off, the freeze window is disabled and any agents assigned to the freeze window ignore its schedule.
    Frequency

    Indicates how often the freeze window occurs. The possible values are:

    • Once

    • Daily

    • Weekly

    • Monthly

    • Yearly
    Window Determines the start and end time of the freeze window using the 24-hour format. You can specify the time window in 30-minute intervals (for example, 9:00 to 17:30).
    Effective Determines the date range during which the freeze window is effective (for example, 2025-06-01 to 2025-07-01). After the Effective date range expires, agents stop following the freeze window schedule.
    Timezone

    The timezone of the Window range.

    A summary of the freeze window schedule appears next to Summary.

  5. Click Save.

    The freeze window goes into effect and appears on the Freeze Windows tab.

Modify a Freeze Window

  1. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

    The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

  2. In the left navigation bar, click Freeze Windows.

    The Freeze Windows page appears.

  3. In the freeze windows table, click the freeze window you want to modify.

    The freeze window details page appears.

  4. Modify the options as necessary:

    Option Description
    Name The name of the freeze window.
    Enabled

    Indicates whether the freeze window is enabled.

    • If the switch is turned on, the freeze window is enabled and any agents assigned to the freeze window are blocked from certain activities based on its schedule.

    • If the switch is turned off, the freeze window is disabled and any agents assigned to the freeze window ignore its schedule.
    Frequency

    Indicates how often the freeze window occurs. The possible values are:

    • Once

    • Daily

    • Weekly

    • Monthly

    • Yearly
    Window Determines the start and end time of the freeze window using the 24-hour format. You can specify the time window in 30-minute intervals (for example, 9:00 to 17:30).
    Effective Determines the date range during which the freeze window is effective (for example, 2025-06-01 to 2025-07-01). After the Effective date range expires, agents stop following the freeze window schedule.
    Timezone

    The timezone of the Window range.

    A summary of the freeze window schedule appears next to Summary.

  5. Click Save to save your changes.

Delete a Freeze Window

  1. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

    The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

  2. In the left navigation bar, click Freeze Windows.

    The Freeze Windows page appears.

  3. In the freeze window table, in the row for the freeze window that you want to delete, click the button.

    A dialog box appears, confirming your selection to delete the freeze window.

  4. Click Delete to confirm the deletion.

    Tenable Nessus Manager deletes the freeze window.

Modify Global Freeze Window Settings

In Tenable Nessus Manager, you can configure a permanent freeze window and global settings for how freeze windows work on linked agents.

To modify global freeze window settings:

  1. In the top navigation bar, click Sensors.

    The Linked Agents page appears. By default, Linked Agents is selected in the left navigation menu and the Linked Agents tab is active.

  2. In the left navigation bar, click Freeze Windows.

    The Freeze Windows page appears.

  3. Click the Settings tab.

  4. Modify any of the following settings:

    Freeze Windows
    Enforce a permanent freeze window schedule

    When enabled, Tenable Nessus Manager creates a permanent freeze window that prevents agents from updating software. The permanent freeze window takes effect immediately after you save the settings (step 5), and it overrides any other existing freeze windows.

    Note: Disabling this setting is the only way to end the permanent freeze window.

    The following freeze window settings also apply during the permanent freeze window.
    Prevent software updates When enabled, agents do not receive software updates during scheduled freeze windows.
    Prevent plugin updates When enabled, agents do not receive plugin updates during scheduled freeze windows.
    Prevent agent scans When enabled, the system does not run agent scans during scheduled freeze windows.

  5. Click Save.

    Tenable Nessus Manager saves your changes.