In a private cloud environment, which of the following is the BEST way to update 20 VMs with the same patch that has been regression tested and approved for rollout?

While automation and orchestration tools are ideal for efficient patch deployment, simply stating to "automate the distribution" and "use an orchestration tool" does not fully describe the operational strategy for applying an approved patch within a production environment, specifically neglecting the importance of a maintenance window.

Manually patching 20 VMs is inefficient, prone to human error, and does not scale well in a cloud environment.

The patch has already been regression tested and approved for rollout, making additional testing on a subset of VMs redundant before general deployment.

Since the patch has been regression tested and approved, the most efficient and least disruptive method for a production environment is to apply it to as many VMs as feasible within the designated maintenance window. This approach minimizes service disruption while maximizing patch compliance.