Computer implemented method for updating software in a distributed computing environment comprising: receiving by a secure network-accessible server a task that is tailored for a first client environment; storing, in the secure network-accessible server, the task in a secure account dedicated to the first client environment the task including a software update to be executed by one or more client devices in the client environment; executing a task-monitoring module that monitors a status of the task, including whether the task has been transmitted to the one or more client devices and whether the task has been completed by the one or more client devices; receiving a request to transmit the task to the one or more client devices, the request being received from an automated task manager running on a client device in the first client environment, which is authenticated to the secure account; transmitting the task to the automated task manager; retrieving by the task-monitoring module a status update that indicates the task has been transmitted to the one or more client devices; updating by the task-monitoring module a task-monitor graphical user interface to graphically indicate that the task has been sent to the one or more client devices and is being executed; receiving a message from the automated task manager that indicates whether the task was successfully completed, the message including contents; retrieving the message by the task-monitoring module; rendering by the task-monitor graphical user interface, a selectable link that, when selected by an input device, displays contents of the message; receiving an input of the selectable link; displaying the content of the message by the task-monitor graphical user interface the content of the message originating from the client environment; and maintaining, by an update server, a file share including a folder structure reflecting a composite of associated folders on a plurality of different client environments, the folder contents including the same file names as stored in the corresponding folders in the client environments with an additional extension, the files being stored as hash files containing a hash value that is calculated on the client environment using the actual file contents, wherein the hash value is used to identify identical program versions in the client environments, such that the task tailored for a first client environment is used to create one or more updates for other client environments of the plurality of client environments being identified to have identical program versions. receiving by a secure network-accessible server a task that is tailored for a first client environment; storing, in the secure network-accessible server, the task in a secure account dedicated to the first client environment the task including a software update to be executed by one or more client devices in the client environment; executing a task-monitoring module that monitors a status of the task, including whether the task has been transmitted to the one or more client devices and whether the task has been completed by the one or more client devices; receiving a request to transmit the task to the one or more client devices, the request being received from an automated task manager running on a client device in the first client environment, which is authenticated to the secure account; transmitting the task to the automated task manager; retrieving by the task-monitoring module a status update that indicates the task has been transmitted to the one or more client devices; updating by the task-monitoring module a task-monitor graphical user interface to graphically indicate that the task has been sent to the one or more client devices and is being executed; receiving a message from the automated task manager that indicates whether the task was successfully completed, the message including contents; retrieving the message by the task-monitoring module; rendering by the task-monitor graphical user interface, a selectable link that, when selected by an input device, displays contents of the message; receiving an input of the selectable link; displaying the content of the message by the task-monitor graphical user interface the content of the message originating from the client environment; and maintaining, by an update server, a file share including a folder structure reflecting a composite of associated folders on a plurality of different client environments, the folder contents including the same file names as stored in the corresponding folders in the client environments with an additional extension, the files being stored as hash files containing a hash value that is calculated on the client environment using the actual file contents, wherein the hash value is used to identify identical program versions in the client environments, such that the task tailored for a first client environment is used to create one or more updates for other client environments of the plurality of client environments being identified to have identical program versions.