Patch management is the process of identifying, testing, deploying, and installing software patches or updates to computers, mobile devices, and servers. Patches are specific changes or sets of updates provided by software developers to fix known security vulnerabilities, technical issues, or add new features and functions to the application. The process of patch management involves identifying, acquiring, testing, and installing patches that are intended to fix bugs, close security holes, or add features.
Patch management is a vital part of every vulnerability management solution. It helps ensure that assets in an environment are not susceptible to exploitation and keeps computers and networks secure, reliable, and up to date with features and functionality that the organization considers important. An effective patch management process will consider reviewing security patch releases, prioritizing patching efforts based on the severity of the vulnerability, testing patch compatibility, and installing multiple patches across all endpoints.
Patch management is used to prevent computers from being exploited by threat actors. It is also an essential tool for ensuring and documenting compliance with security and privacy regulations. A centralized patch management server automates patch management and gives the organization a degree of control over the patch management process.
