A method begins by a management unit of a distributed storage network (DSN) sending a software update notice to a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, wherein the plurality of DS units supports a plurality of digital storage vaults, and wherein a set of DS units of the plurality of DS units supports a digital storage vault of the plurality of digital storage vaults. The method continues with a DS processing module determining an update strategy for updating software of the plurality of DS units such that at least a decode threshold number of DS units of the set of DS units is continually available to service access requests to the digital storage vault and updating the software of at least some of the plurality of DS units in accordance with the update strategy.