Technology is constantly evolving, and your organization is more reliant than ever on the computer network for business productivity purposes. The computer applications themselves & operating systems they reside on must be patched appropriately in order to function optimally. The need to keep all of your systems up to date is an overwhelming task (even for your IT department). While many updates are automatic, it is also common for software companies to release patches that need to be manually implemented.
Patch Management should be a crucial part of your holistic IT security strategy. The primary reason is that patches fix security vulnerabilities in real time. When developers are made aware of a potential issue, they deploy a patch to protect users until the next round of software is released. Read on to learn more about what patch management is, why patch management is necessary, and how to keep your system secure through patch management solutions.
What is Patch Management?
A patch is a piece of code that developers release to address a vulnerability in their software. The patch needs to be placed into the code of the existing program to strengthen the program or enhance its features.
Patch management refers to the process of identifying the devices that need to be patched and deploying the necessary codes. If you are a small or mid-sized business, then it’s likely there is a process in place for implementing patches to your organization’s devices (I hope!).
What is the Process for Patch Management?
To stay up-to-date with patches, they need to be identified. The first step in a successful patch management process is to stay informed. Depending on the size of your organization, you might need to prioritize which patches to deploy first. After you identify the new patches, research them to understand their potential impact on your business. Prioritize the ones that address security threats.
Why is Patch Management Necessary?
A strong patch management process is essential to protect your business. From compliance to security issues, ensuring your network is properly patched can make a huge difference to your bottom line.
Security
With cybersecurity threats are on the rise, the most common cause of a network security breach is missing patches. Considering patches are public information that directly identify security vulnerabilities, hackers can use this intel to target specific vulnerabilities in your network.
Compliance
In terms of compliance, regulatory bodies require that organizations stay current on patching of any business systems in consideration of the very high security threat. Businesses can face large fines and penalties for missing or mis-managing patches.
Productivity
Out-of-date software applications are well known to be unstable. We often find that the organizations that stay up-to-date on patching have significantly less downtime. Also, some patches implement new helpful functionality that enhance the feature-set of software applications.
Patch Management Services
While patch management is crucial, it is also time-consuming. At NOYNIM IT Solutions, we offer a fully monitored patch management solution that ensures your operating systems and applications are always up to date. We take the burden off of you by proactively monitoring your systems to implement applicable patches as they’re released & vetted. You can rest assured that your critical business systems are secure, compliant, and up to date on patching.