It's important to run Software Updates on the Mac.
If your system is set to automatic updates, you simply need to click "Install" when prompted in the upper right corner of the screen. But some of these updates can take an hour or more to run and few people have time to wait. By starting the Software Update at the end of the day your Mac will be ready when next you sit down to work.
Open System Preferences, Software Update
Don’t click Upgrade Now, that’s a full system update to Monterey and unless you have a new Mac, it can wait.
Instead, click the little “More info..” weblink under "Other updates are Available" and your Mac will begin updating.