I too am one of those IT guys responsible for things working.
Suggest this is the perfect time to install a sandbox (SB) instance of moodle on same server ... thus you have same total environment. SB installed and maintained by git - same plugins.
Git, command line only, and is by far the best/easiest way to update/upgrade a moodle. Considering that moodle releases new code fixes (and security fixes) each week you can finally totally ignore the Notifications NAG!
One nouser course from production server restored to SB. Teacher that creates the H5P stuff can tinker away without concern.
Big changes/plans for plugins/addons forth coming in moodle and a SB will be needed to test upgrading to the version that will introduce and eventually require.
With that SB you also have a testing environment for course backups and restores.
All above ... my 2 cents!
'SoS', Ken