notify about staged channels that need to be synced to distribute (security) patches

Hi List, We use Content Lifecycle Management and have our systems in staged channels. To be informed about new patches for those systems we have to first sync the channels. How can we get this notification *before *syncing, so that we know when we have to sync? Or is it best to have one of each systems unstaged so we get to know about those updates? (i don't think so) Thanks, BR Heiner