When it comes to the software your company depends upon, keeping things up to date with the latest patches and fixes is critical.
It’s also a much more involved process than, say, updating an app on your phone. While today’s software can usually be updated with the click of a mouse or trackpad, simply doing so ignores a series of important steps — steps that, if not followed, can result in a loss of productivity at best and a major cyber security threat at worst.
That’s why, when it comes to businesses, software patching should be monitored by IT and not left up to individual departments or team members. Here are five reasons why:
1. Security
One of the primary reasons software patches are released is to address security vulnerabilities. Unpatched software provides a big playground for hackers to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations.
2. Compliance
Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements that mandate the timely application of security patches. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in severe penalties and damage to your company’s reputation.
3. Stability
In addition to addressing security vulnerabilities, patches fix software bugs that can cause system crashes, data corruption, or other operational issues.
4. Performance
Software vendors often release patches to optimize the performance of their applications. These updates can improve the speed, efficiency, and overall user experience of software systems.
5. Costs
Unpatched software can lead to costly security incidents, data breaches, and system failures. The financial impact of such events, including remediation costs, legal fees, and more can be substantial.
The steps of software patch management
Every software patch from a vendor can’t be immediately trusted.
Even the most reputable and popular software providers make mistakes — even while fixing a mistake. Additionally, a seemingly minor patch can potentially wreak havoc on a company’s systems and applications.
When software patch management is controlled by IT, a number of vital steps can be conducted from a centralized location. These steps include:
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Regular monitoring of software vendors and security advisories for new patches and updates, as well as maintaining an inventory of all software applications and their versions to identify which systems require patches.
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Evaluating patches for relevance and potential impact on an organization’s systems, including an assessment of the severity of a software’s vulnerability and identifying which systems require patches.
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Thorough testing of patches in a controlled environment to ensure that the patches do not introduce new issues or conflicts with existing software and hardware configurations.
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Deployment of patches to the production environment following a systematic approach that prioritizes critical systems and sensitive data.
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Ongoing monitoring of systems after a patch has been deployed so there are no adverse effects on system performance.
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Keeping detailed records of all patches applied, including their version, deployment date, and any issues encountered, is crucial for tracking the organization's patch management history and ensuring accountability.
Software patch management best practices
Whether your company is building out an internal IT team or is looking to partner with a managed IT services provider, there are some key best practices for software patch management that need to be followed.
These include:
1. Developing a comprehensive patch management policy that outlines roles, responsibilities, procedures, and timelines for patching. This policy should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the organization's IT environment and threat landscape.
2. Implementing a risk-based approach to prioritize patches based on the severity of vulnerabilities, the potential impact on the organization, and the likelihood of exploitation. Critical patches should be applied promptly, while less urgent updates can be scheduled accordingly.
3. Continuously scanning the organization's IT environment for vulnerabilities and missing patches, including using automated tools to assist in identifying systems that require updates and generating reports for IT teams to act upon.
4. Conducting a thorough test of patches in a controlled environment to identify any compatibility issues or unintended side effects.
5. Developing and putting in place a rollback plan to revert to the previous state if a patch causes unexpected problems. This minimizes downtime and allows IT teams to address issues without compromising system stability.
6. Maintaining detailed records of all patching activities, including patch versions, deployment dates, testing results, and any issues encountered. This documentation provides valuable insights for future patch management efforts and ensures accountability.
7. Educating and training staff and other stakeholders of the importance of patch management, along with regular training sessions and awareness programs to reinforce the significance of timely patching and to encourage a proactive approach.
By following these best practices, your IT provider will be able to ensure your systems and software continue to run smoothly. Software patches are critical, and most should be done as soon as possible. But without a process for managing and testing patches, you may put your organization at an even greater risk.
