Patch management solutions is something that network and cyber security professionals often think of in the context of keeping systems up to date and safe. Updates are essentially used to address vulnerabilities and security flaws not just in software but also hardware devices connected to the network.
Cloud Patch Management plays a vital role in detecting and fixing software and hardware vulnerabilities and the entire patch management process provides a managed cyber security platform for tracking and deploying updates.
Software and hardware manufacturers routinely deliver updates for products, however with the number of different applications and devices on a network the task of rolling these out can become an IT managers nightmare. With that said, patch management tools can help with tracking new updates and then deploying these on a schedule where the minimum amount of disruption is experienced by the business. These tools now also offer granular control over patches by providing a single interface tool, allowing for auto approvals, scheduling and reporting. These tools can help any business stay up to date and avoid the risk of security breeches from out of date software and hardware.
Not rolling out Patch management solutions can open up a gateway to many vulnerabilities for attackers to breech the network.
There are four basic steps involved in the process of patch management system. Assessment, analysis, application and assurance. Initially, the vulnerabilities are identified by the team with updates. In the second step, the risky patches are detected and analyzed. Analysis of the risk assessment is evaluated to determine the full scope of the rollout and develop a remediation strategy. Then comes the application if strategy.