Patch management and remediation are critical components that facilitate the safety and optimal functionality of your systems. After the software is released, vulnerabilities could be discovered, and remediation by installing a patch is the most practical solution instead of overhauling the whole system. Patch management involves the distribution and application of updates to the software to fix errors, also known as bugs or vulnerabilities. Common areas that require patches include applications, operating systems, and embedded systems. With the ever-evolving tech advancements, patch management is critical as it ensures that your assets aren’t susceptible to exploitation.
Why is patch management important?
A secure environment
Security is perhaps the most apparent benefit arising from patch management. With the focus on fixing vulnerabilities on your system, patch management is the needed remediation that mitigates risks that makes your environment susceptible to cyber threats. Mitigating security risks leads to a secure environment, and with regular patching, organizations can dramatically improve their security and keep breaches at bay.
Optimal functionality
How often do you experience system downtimes? With patch management and remediation, you can keep the system up-to-date, facilitating optimal functionality, including uptime. This translates to improved productivity. Such functionality is especially notable if your organization relies on technology to reach customers. By fixing software bugs, your customers enjoy a smooth experience, and as they won’t be frustrated by down-times, make it easier to grow a huge and loyal following.
Compliance
As cyber-attacks continue to pose a significant threat, regulatory bodies have outlined measures that organizations should implement to protect users. Patch management and remediation are critical components of ensuring that you are in compliance with such standards. Failure to meet the standards could attract hefty fines, stressing the need to have effective patch management strategies.
Better future
Keeping up with the rapid tech advancements can prove to be quite overwhelming. With patch management, you can comfortably update your systems and enjoy improved functionality. Such features also offer a chance to deploy advanced innovations and scale up your system. To this end, patch management goes beyond fixing vulnerabilities by facilitating the adoption of the latest and better products.
While patch management and remediation are critical, organizations can’t afford to jump and install every patch the moment they are made available. The process requires due diligence, stressing the need to have an effective strategy that is security-focused. Considerations such as the inventory of the organization’s systems, a backup plan for standardizing the systems, a list of the present security controls, and a comparison of the identified vulnerabilities the patch aims to fix against the organization’s inventory are critical.
With such details, an organization can classify the risks using its vulnerability management tools and test the patches by applying them on representative samples of their assets. If the tests reveal that the patches won’t be disruptive, an organization can proceed to apply the remediation measures. This is followed by tracking the progress to ensure that the patch management process doesn’t expose the system to vulnerabilities, and if any, proper remediation steps are implemented.
Patch management and remediation are essential, especially as automation continues to be the norm. With best practices, organizations can avoid system disruptions, eliminate vulnerabilities that could be exploited, and keep up with the rapid advancements.
