Patch management is the identification and deployment of patches, commonly known as software updates, to the various endpoints of an organisation, such as its servers, workstations, and mobile devices. Patches are a set of updates or specific changes pushed out by developers to fix known issues or security vulnerabilities in their commercial software as well as add new functions and features to it. It is vital to know that patches are generally short-term solutions intended for use only up until the next full software release.

Understanding the importance and process behind patch management

Patch management is essential in today's cybersecurity landscape for the following reasons:

1. Ensure network and endpoint security

Patch management is indispensable to a business's patch strategy and cybersecurity vulnerability. This is because unpatched operating systems and software applications are one of the primary causes behind security breaches today. Quick and timely patch management backed by supplemental detection, monitoring, and remediation processes and tools helps mitigate the risk of such incidents. Modern patch management safeguards all endpoints with a network connection regardless of location or ownership.

2. Deploy feature enhancements and minimise downtime

Apart from bolstering digital security from brute-force attacks, software patches help improve a business's overall performance by reducing downtimes from unsupported or outdated software. There are also cases when patches add new features to the software, which can benefit workflow efficiency.

3. Compliance

In most cases, patch management is compulsory by the relevant industry or other regulatory bodies such as government agencies. Non-compliance is generally discouraged by penalties like hefty fines and sanctions.

IT teams are generally tasked with carrying out a patch management process, often with the help of an automated patch management tool. For patch management to be effective, it must consider elements such as:

● Security patch releases reviews.

● Patch prioritisation depending on the severity of the vulnerability.

● Patch compatibility testing and deployment of multiple patches on all affected endpoints.

Best practices in patch management

There are many solutions today that can improve one's vulnerability and patch management process by addressing the persistent challenges involved in deploying updates and continuous vulnerability monitoring. Take note of the following best practices in maintaining robust security that keeps attackers at bay.

1. Establish a dedicated vulnerability management team

It is ideal to have a team of in-house information security personnel focus solely on patch management, provided the organisation's resources permit it. They will exclusively handle and be accountable for staying on top of known vulnerabilities and deploying patches. The main advantage of this approach is that the business's information security C-suite can generate metrics that evaluate the programme's effectiveness and pinpoint key areas that need improvement or additional investment.

2. Use a risk-assessment framework (RAF)

Leveraging an RAF is an effective approach to quickly recognising which vulnerabilities and related patches help support teams to prioritise the critical endpoints and systems that need immediate patching. Defining a risk assessment template is ideally a joint effort between IT and Information Security teams to create the best patching policies and service-level agreements that mitigate the critical risks within their organisation.

3. Document and re-assess

The joint effort mentioned previously in developing an RAF template should also extend to agreeing on vulnerability evaluation criteria and methods for patch prioritisation. Review and approval of such plans and possible exceptions are also under their purview to confirm the organisation's acceptance of any associated risks. This vulnerability management hierarchy ensures accountability among the associated teams and makes sure timely patches are consistently deployed. Periodic re-examination and the policies surrounding this template let security teams keep up with the new vulnerabilities and patching solutions that arise over time.

Conclusion

The increasing rate of cyberattacks caused by unpatched systems implies ineffective patch management processes observed by many organisations today. By understanding the role of patch management and knowing a few industry best practices to get started, readers should hopefully have a better idea of how to get started with improving their processes.

If your organisation needs professional help improving endpoint security, GROUP8 is here to help. As the leading name in offensive-inspired cybersecurity services, we are the experts you can trust to maintain a high level of robustness in your business's cybersecurity posture. To learn more about our all-encompassing industry-leading solutions, including data loss prevention, network security, and vulnerability assessment and penetration testing services in Singapore, do not hesitate to contact us at hello@group8.co today.