Patches are the term for improvements to software that are intended to upgrade, repair, or strengthen the functionality of that software. For different purposes, patches are deployed, such as fixing security vulnerabilities and bugs, enhancing user experience, or increasing performance.
What is Patch Management?
For a security vulnerability or bug in a software item, a patch is a relatively small fix. It is like a band-aid that your company is using for a software version. Software vendors work constantly to address problems with their products and then provide customers with either a big version upgrade or a patch quickly. Patch management is the process of monitoring these updates and ensuring that our products are safe and modified in the most reliable way possible with the appropriate patches, without breaking something.
How does the Patch Management function?
There are various patch deployment methods and they vary depending on the design of the infrastructure for each business information system.
Most companies with large infrastructures are implementing automated patch management systems that reduce the manual implementation requirements for manpower. This function will be outsourced by other firms to a trusted third party. Often as a part of this service, patch management included in your IT support is fully outsourced.
An automated patch management system requires a client agent to be installed. This allows network administrators, from a centralized interface, to manage patch distribution. They can configure patch distribution settings, generate patch status reports, and set the distribution at various levels to cover various applications and devices.
Why should you have Patch Management?
Unsupported Software
When a vendor stops supporting software, it means they will no longer release patches for vulnerabilities discovered. They will remain vulnerable as new loopholes come to light, as nothing will be done to patch them. It is advisable to avoid using this software because vulnerabilities are becoming more prevalent for them and this would only attract hackers.
Save Your Money
How much is a security breach going to cost? What if, due to a lack of patch management, your business has been breached? So, it’s going to be really costly for the company. If there is no strategy in place to handle the processes following the incident, so the violation would become unmanageable, resulting in more money being lost. If something were to go wrong, patch management often needs advice.
Insecure Software
One of man’s masterpieces is software. Human error comes into play, like everything else. There could be unintended defects. This would open up opportunities for malicious hackers to strike.
Zero-Day Attacks
It hardly ever happens. Due to the lack of time between the backdoor detection and the creation of a patch, there is not enough time for the hacker to develop an exploit for the vulnerability. This suggests that 99.9 percent of attacks occur due to widely used exploits and vulnerabilities commonly found in the systems of organizations that have not yet been patched. Most of the attacks could have been avoided easily and secured by systems. Due to bad patching practices, though, it has all gone wrong.
Expired Antivirus
When it’s an outdated antivirus. It’s practically useless. It is not possible to pick up new threats that have been discovered since its last update, as it will not show any record of being a vulnerability. Patching your anti-virus means everything that it should do can be picked up.
How an effective patch management program assists the business?
Your business can benefit in a variety of ways from patch management:
No unreasonable penalties
If your company does not patch and thus does not follow legal requirements, certain monetary fines from regulatory bodies may be levied on you. Effective maintenance of patches means you are in compliance.
A more stable environment
You help to control and reduce the risk that occurs in your environment when you patch vulnerabilities periodically. This will protect the organisation from future breaches of security.
Continued product innovation
With improved features and functionality, you can incorporate updates to upgrade the technology. This will provide a way for your company to execute the new technologies on the scale of your apps.
Happy customers
If a product or service that allows customers to use your technology is provided by your company, then you know how important it is that the technology actually works. The method of fixing software bugs is patch management, which helps to keep your systems up and running.
Speak to Our Patch Management Experts!
Looking for ways to function that are smarter and more secure? Book a free online or on-site consultation to discuss your business plans and goals with our team of specialists. Call us on 0208 050 5014 or submit your information below for a call back from us.
Patch management is the process that helps acquire, test, and install multiple patches (code changes) on existing applications and software tools on a computer,Patch Management as a Service | Why Should You Have One?
