Why Is Patch Management Important?

Patch management is the process of updating your devices through the regular deployment of patches. Patches are small installation packages or files that contain pieces of code tailored to repair code errors. These can remove software exploits and provide application stability so your programs continue to run without issue. Patch management is an IT project that can be handled manually or automatically.

Manually patching all of your computing devices is tedious and time consuming. But patch management is important and shouldn’t be ignored. Automating patch management frees up your IT resources and helps keep your data safe. 

For automated patch management, most businesses rely on patch management as a service from a managed service provider (MSP) like 42, Inc. We’ve helped numerous businesses in the Berkeley, California, area deploy patches. Our patch management services work by:

• Scanning applications for missing patches
• Automatically downloading missing patches
• Deploying downloaded patches based on established policies
• Creating reports on the status of tasks in the automated patch management checklist

It’s not always a good idea to install patches as soon as they’re released. You need to consider the impact the patches may have on your business. In addition to automated patch management, you should also have a strategic plan that’s cost effective and security focused. The key steps of such a strategy include:

• Updating Inventory: Every month or quarter, inventory is taken to identify what assets you have, along with their operating systems, version types, and IP addresses. This allows for more accurate monitoring.
• Standardizing Systems: Assets and operating systems should be standardized to the same version type. Doing so makes patching faster and more efficient.
• Listing Security Controls: It’s important to keep track of firewalls, antivirus software, and vulnerability tools to know what these solutions are protecting and what devices are associated with them.
• Testing: Apply patches to a small batch of devices, then stress test to ensure there are no issues.

You now know why patch management is important, but how does this service benefit your business? By using a MSP for patch management services, you can:

• Improve Security: By taking a smart approach to patch deployment, you can reduce risks by eliminating vulnerabilities throughout your network.
• Avoid Unnecessary Costs: Falling out of compliance with cybersecurity regulations can lead to costly fines. You could also end up having to pay for much more than just fines, including court costs.
• Continue Product Improvement: As mentioned earlier, patches can be used to install updates that improve performance and add functionality and features.
• Keep Customers Happy: If you provide a product or service that requires customers to use your technology, patches can fix issues that might impact their experience.