A Closer Look At the Patch Management Best Practices

As technology continues to evolve, the threats businesses face will increase exponentially. This is already evident in the cost of data breaches, which rose to 4.45 million in 2023, according to the Dark Reading Magazine.

Businesses that maintain unpatched systems are highly vulnerable to cybersecurity threats that threaten survival or cause catastrophic damage. Patch management is a necessity your business can’t afford to go without.

Fortunately, you can stay ahead and mitigate the likelihood of any cybersecurity threats by adopting patch management best practices. Discover the best patch management practices to enhance your IT performance, security, and efficiency.

Why Patch Management Matters

Patch management is one of the core elements in cybersecurity because it involves the distribution and application of updates that fix existing errors or bugs in software. Effective patch strategies are necessary to fix your company’s IT security vulnerabilities.

Business system updates have often focused on improving cybersecurity measures. However, patch management goes further by identifying and fixing emerging vulnerabilities. So, you need to install patches continuously to close security vulnerabilities immediately.

Optimal patch scheduling may be difficult for an in-house IT team to follow. Getting professional IT services can help you realize the full benefits of patch management, which include:

Minimized systems downtime
Enhanced regulatory compliance
Reduced IT security costs
Increased IT efficiency

Create an Inventory of All Your Infrastructure

You need a clear understanding of all your IT assets and connected infrastructure to know what updates are necessary. Each business environment is unique, so don’t follow the same procedure everyone in your industry uses when patching.

Taking an inventory of your assets allows you to understand the risks you face. According to the World Economic Forum, companies still need to prepare more for cybersecurity breaches, which is evident in the fact that there is a shortage of about four million cybersecurity experts.

Key steps to create a complete inventory of your systems should include:

Using automated tools to find all software and hardware assets
Recording and reviewing all assets to capture new acquisitions
Classifying all assets based on importance

A comprehensive inventory eases your ability to bolster your network’s security protocols. Network segmentation is one of the strategies to protect different assets effectively, even if they are on a single network.

Create a Patch Management Policy

Take your time and create a detailed patch management policy explaining how patching will occur, the tools needed, and the requirements. Developing a policy is essential to developing a strategic plan that addresses all your needs.

The policy should also detail when patches are necessary and the conditions that necessitate immediate or emergency action. Another benefit of having a patch management policy is streamlining the patch deployment process.

Besides, a policy creates a consistent and clear protocol for enhanced security protocols. Some of the critical features of an excellent patch management policy include:

Responsibilities of different IT specialists
Communication channels across the organization
Regulatory compliance standards
Scope of the policy

Automate Patch Management

Improve your IT security by automating patch management to reduce the manual workload. Doing so can eliminate human error, further enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of the patching process.

Automated patch management lowers your IT costs by reducing the labor and resources needed for patching. Automation tools are also helpful in identifying vulnerabilities and developing solutions in real time.

Further, automation minimizes interruptions that might adversely affect the process or your existing systems. Additional benefits of automated patch management are:

Increased productivity
Reduced system downtime
Greater transparency of your entire network

Conduct Risk Assessment and Prioritize Key Systems

Assess your system’s vulnerabilities and risks to understand how to implement deployment without downtime. It’s advisable not to apply the patching process simultaneously across your entire network.

Instead, categorize patches into groups and prioritize the assets or systems that face the highest risk. Always patch the most vulnerable systems first, then move on to the subsequent ones.

You should also provide advanced notice to users and plan for any downtime. Remember to cover all your endpoints and use endpoint management solutions such as Microsoft Intune.

A simple criterion for evaluating risk can include the following steps:

Assessing the severity of risk using the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS)
Prioritizing critical assets based on importance to business operations
Conducting continuous threat assessment

Test Patches Prior to Deployment

Although patches are designed to boost your IT security, they may introduce new issues if they differ from your existing systems. Effective patch strategies must first be rigorously tested to avoid causing any new problems or vulnerabilities.

Create a test environment similar to your real-world operation or production. Stress tests the patches to evaluate the level of compatibility and impact on your system’s performance. This is one of patch management best practices because it helps you identify potential conflicts and create mitigating strategies.

While testing your patches, create post-patching protocols and procedures. This measure involves creating a contingency plan if something unexpected happens. Continuously test your existing systems to assess the level of network vulnerability and identify the need for patches.

Conduct Post-Patch Management Assessment

Patch management best practices don’t stop at deployment; you need to monitor the status of the system continuously. Create reports that provide insights on different areas, such as risk mitigation and application functionality.

Investigate if there are any issues and apply a rollback plan to prevent any system downtime or operational disruptions. Steadily assess the system and follow optimal patch scheduling to close security issues immediately if they become a threat.

According to IBM, the proliferation of data and AI makes it harder to track and safeguard against cybersecurity issues. Thus, companies must adopt patch management best practices sooner rather than later.

Implement Patch Management Best Practices Today

Following patch management best practices can be costly for any company, regardless of size. Outsourcing is best if you’re looking for an efficient, effective solution that addresses all your needs.

Empist provides 24/7 support, and our 98% client satisfaction score highlights our commitment to delivering the best services. From cybersecurity to cloud services, our comprehensive IT solutions are professionally curated to meet your needs.