Redhat's Errata Alert and update system

Can someone explain how this service from Redhat works.
Currently I have a profile at REDHAT for one of my machines,
and the Redhat Alert system informs me of out-of-date patches/fixes
etc..., whereby I go to the redhat website and schedule the updates
to be applied to my system.
Questions:
1) Is there a process (what is the name) that runs on the server
that polls the redhat site for updates, that I have marked through
the alert system to download patches/fixes...etc. (that is my guess);
2) what are the security implications of this process constantly running?;
and
3) My machine reboots every now and then - is there related to
this service? Why the reboots?  If it is not related to the service,
then can someone suggest a way for me to diagnos why my
machine is rebooting every-now-and-then?

thanks!!!!

-Joel