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Developers periodically review software and release patches to remedy any bugs. When patches happen often, they can be hard to track.
Patch management is about staying proactive, applying software updates and organizing them to keep everything running smoothly. This minimizes risk and protects your infrastructure from threats that could compromise data and operations.
Here’s a guide to patch management, including its benefits, important steps, and best practices.
What Is Patch Management?
Patch management applies vendor-issued updates to software, operating systems, and devices. These patch updates, known as security patches, are critical for fixing security vulnerabilities in development pipelines and enhancing performance.
But patch management is more than just security. It’s also about keeping your business running smoothly. Every piece of software in your IT infrastructure and supply chain, from employee laptops to network devices, requires consistent updating to maintain performance and minimize downtime—especially for critical endpoints. Effective patch management prevents costly breaches, boosts productivity, and ultimately protects your organization's reputation by addressing vulnerabilities before they become exploitable.
The Benefits of Patch Management in Cybersecurity
Understanding why is patch management important has several benefits:
- Higher security: Releasing patches addresses software and application vulnerabilities, including hardcoded secrets, to close security gaps that cybercriminals could exploit. This reduces the risk of breaches and keeps sensitive data secure.
- Streamlined compliance: Many industries have strict regulations requiring regular updates to maintain security standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Healthcare, finance, and government sectors are susceptible to compliance standards that protect personal and financial information. Implementing a patch management strategy helps you meet these requirements.
- Improved system uptime: Regular patching keeps systems up to date and operating at their best. This mitigates the risk of unexpected downtime due to bugs or vulnerabilities and enhances IT asset performance.
- Lower costs: Preventative patching can significantly lower the costs associated with emergency repairs or breach response. By avoiding these disruptions, your business saves both time and money.
Steps in the Patch Management Process
The patch management lifecycle involves several steps:
1. Asset Management
The foundation of effective patch management is knowing what assets you have. This involves creating an up-to-date inventory of all software, hardware, and connected devices. Asset management provides insight into your environment and avoids missing any important patch opportunities.
2. Patch Monitoring
Once you have an inventory of your assets, the next step is to stay informed about available patches. Patch monitoring involves tracking vendors' release schedules and updates to ensure you can react swiftly to new vulnerabilities. Proactively monitoring patches allows your team to mitigate risks before they become serious problems.
3. Patch Prioritization
Not all patches are equally urgent. Prioritize high-risk vulnerabilities with the greatest potential impact on your organization. This involves distinguishing between critical patches that require immediate application and those that can wait for a later time, directing limited resources to the most critical areas.
4. Patch Testing
Testing avoids unintended disruptions. If possible, test a patch in a controlled environment before deploying it to ensure it won't cause compatibility issues or create new problems. This process catches potential conflicts and avoids affecting business operations.
5. Patch Deployment
Once testing is complete, deploy the patch across your network. Depending on your infrastructure's capabilities, this can be done manually or automatically.
6. Patch Documentation and Review
Documenting the patching process supports compliance and continuous improvement. Record what patches you applied, when, and to which systems. Regular reviews help you assess patch success, measure return on investment (ROI), and make improvements over time.
Patch Management Best Practices
Whether deploying your own patches or applying those for networks and tools, these best practices streamline patching, reduce risks, and keep environments secure:
Conduct Regular Patch Audits
Regular patch audits help you identify missed or failed patches, verify that all systems are up to date, and assess the overall health of your patch management program. This avoids gaps in coverage, minimizing the risk of unpatched vulnerabilities.
Automate Where Possible
By using automated software for patch management, you can apply patches consistently and promptly, reducing the chance of human error or delays. Automation also lets your IT teams focus on more strategic tasks rather than taking time to manually apply updates.
Plan Ahead
Patch planning involves scheduling updates during maintenance windows to minimize disruption, coordinating across teams, and prioritizing patches based on the criticality of the vulnerability. This avoids unexpected downtime and ensures that patching occurs smoothly, with minimal impact on day-to-day operations.
Test Before Deployment
Testing patches before full deployment prevents potential system outages. By first applying patches in a controlled test environment, you can verify their compatibility and make sure they don’t introduce new issues.
Maintain an Inventory of Assets
Keep an up-to-date inventory of all hardware, software, and systems. Management software can help you maintain this inventory, including every asset in the patching process.
Level Up Your Patch Management With Legit Security
Managing patches is critical for securing your IT environment, minimizing vulnerabilities, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. But patch management can be complex, especially when deciding which vulnerabilities to address first. This is where Legit Security comes in.
Legit Security equips you with the tools to effectively find, fix, and prevent application risk. It doesn’t just highlight application vulnerabilities, but also gives you the full context you need to make smart remediation decisions.