What Is Patch Management?

Here’s a quick history lesson—until the mid-1970s, most computer programs were created on punched cards. Engineers would take a piece of rectangular paper card and punch holes by hand on a keypunch machine and feed it into a card reader. The machine would then run the program. If the program produced an unexpected or incorrect result, it would probably be because an engineer punched the wrong hole in the card. The only way to fix the error was to scrap the incorrect card and replace it with a new one. This is how the software patch management process used to work back then.

Today, patching has become an overly complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming process that needs robust tools and frameworks to change code and mitigate vulnerabilities. This blog provides a detailed understanding of why patch management is crucial to the IT device management lifecycle.

What is Patch Management or Patching?

Patch management process comprises of identifying and deploying patches and updates to operating systems, applications, and firmware. It involves identifying system features that need to be improved, creating a fix, releasing the updated software, and validating the installation of the updates. The aim behind patching is to protect systems against vulnerabilities.

All devices need to be secured, whether it’s an employee’s laptop, a shared tablet at school, or a self-ordering kiosk in a quick-service restaurant. Organizations must carry out regular patching as it acts as a security tool against vulnerabilities that are caused by evolving threats, system configurations, or outdated patches.

Types of patch management

Many different types of patches exist, each serving a specific purpose. Some patches fix bugs to improve security, while others add new features to the software. These patches can be generally grouped into three main categories:

• Security patches: These patches address vulnerabilities in the software that could be exploited by attackers. They are essential for keeping your software safe and up-to-date.

• Bug fix patches: These patches fix errors in the software that can cause crashes, unexpected behavior, or other problems. They can improve the stability and reliability of your software.

• Feature patches: These patches add new features to the software. They can improve the functionality of the software and make it more useful for users.

Why patch management is important for enterprises

Cyber threats are multiplying rapidly, with software vulnerabilities and ransomware attacks on the rise. Implementing a robust patch management strategy is essential for enterprises to stay ahead of these risks. Patching all devices—servers, desktops, laptops for remote offices and home workers—across a complex network can be a daunting task for businesses.  While managing these patches manually might seem like a cost-saving option, it’s both inefficient and risky. Patch management tools offer a far more secure and streamlined approach.

According to a Ponemon Institute report1 commissioned by IBM, over 40% of IT and security workers indicated they suffered a data breach in the last year due to unpatched vulnerabilities. While simple in nature, patching software in a large organization with several complex systems takes time. It takes, on average, 102 days to apply, test, and fully deploy patches.

The patch management Process isn’t just another IT chore—it’s a critical line of defense for your entire organization. Here’s how:

• Fortress against cyberattacks: Patches fix vulnerabilities in software and applications, act as a shield, and reduce the risk of cyber attacks. Unpatched software is an easy target, potentially leading to devastating breaches.

• Compliance without complications:  Regulatory requirements are becoming stricter. A strong patch management strategy maintains security and compliance and ensures all your devices comply with the latest standards, keeping you on the right side of the law.

• Beyond bug fixes: Patches aren’t just about security. They often introduce new features and functionalities, improving usability and ensuring optimum system performance.

• Keeping downtime at bay:  Ransomware and other cyber threats can cripple your systems, costing valuable time and money. Patch management Program keeps your devices updated and secure, minimizing the risk of downtime caused by security breaches.

How patch management works?

Patch management works differently based on whether it is applied to an individual system or across a network of devices in an organization.

For standalone systems, such as personal computers, the operating system and installed applications regularly check for updates. Many modern systems are configured to automatically download and install patches as soon as they become available, ensuring the system remains protected without user intervention.

However, in corporate networks, managing patches individually on each device can lead to inconsistencies and increased bandwidth consumption. To address this, organizations use centralized patch management, where a dedicated server manages the process. This server scans all connected devices for missing patches, downloads necessary updates, and distributes them across the network.

Centralized patch management offers several key advantages:

• Automation & Control – IT administrators can automate updates while maintaining control over patch deployments. If a patch is known to cause issues, the system can prevent its installation.
• Bandwidth Optimization – Instead of each device downloading the same patch individually, the server downloads it once and distributes it efficiently, conserving internet bandwidth.
• Uniform Security & Compliance – Ensuring all devices run the same software versions reduces security vulnerabilities and helps organizations meet compliance requirements.

What are the steps of patch management process?

The patch management process works depending on whether a patch is applied to a standalone system or numerous systems in an enterprise’s network. Irrespective of the environment, there are three key steps involved in the process of deploying patches:

Step 1 – Vulnerability scanning

This step involves a complete inventory check for open vulnerabilities and security gaps in the company assets. It’s essential to check all devices in the company’s IT environment that have access to detailed hardware and software information.

Step 2 – Prioritization strategy

Prioritization is key to ensuring that the effort of patching under scarce resources is expended toward maximum risk reduction.

Step 3 – Patch management

Once a clear software patching strategy has been articulated and the vulnerabilities to be addressed have been prioritized, it is vital to use effective tools to discover patches from vendors and automate patching at scale. Finding and using the right patch management tools can significantly reduce the effort involved in patching.

Benefits of patch management

Effective patch management not only protects systems from vulnerabilities but also provides organizations with several operational and security advantages. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of patch management helps organizations implement a structured approach to system updates.

• Employee productivity: Patching ensures software and applications are up-to-date and run smoothly, supporting system uptime. It helps improve overall employee productivity by minimizing downtime caused by outdated or unsupported software.

• Compliance: Patch management is commonly required by security frameworks or standards such as ISO 27001 Annex A, PCI DSS, or NIST Cyber Security Framework. Failure to comply with patch updates could result in fines, sanctions, or other penalties.

• Lower costs: Another major advantage of patch management is cost reduction. Patching lowers the cost of device lifecycle management and repair. With a dispersed workforce, businesses have had to pivot quickly to provide support. Remote mobile device management tools extend the abilities of IT staff, lowering the need for costly on-site visits.

Challenges of patch management

Patch management is a critical aspect of cybersecurity and IT maintenance, ensuring that systems remain secure, stable, and compliant with industry regulations. However, organizations often struggle with various challenges that can hinder effective patch deployment. Below are some of the common problems in patch management:

1. Patch delays & missed deadlines

One of the most common challenges in patch management is keeping up with patch schedules. Organizations frequently encounter:

• High volume of patches: Vendors release frequent patches addressing vulnerabilities, performance issues, or feature updates. Tracking and prioritizing these patches can be overwhelming.
• Limited IT resources: IT teams often lack the bandwidth to test, validate, and deploy patches promptly. When resources are stretched thin, critical patches may get delayed.
• Conflicting priorities: Business operations and uptime requirements may take precedence over patching activities, leading to postponed deployments. For example, patching critical servers may require downtime, which organizations hesitate to schedule.

2. System compatibility issues

Patches are designed to improve system security and performance, but they can sometimes introduce unexpected issues, particularly in environments with diverse software and hardware configurations.

• Legacy system constraints: Older systems may not support newer patches, forcing IT teams to either apply workarounds or leave the system unpatched, creating security gaps.
• Application conflicts: Some patches may disrupt business-critical applications, causing crashes, instability, or degraded performance. This necessitates extensive testing before deployment, further delaying the patching process.
• Hardware and driver incompatibility: Certain patches, especially for operating systems, can lead to hardware malfunctions if drivers or firmware are not updated accordingly.

3. Inconsistent patch deployment

For large enterprises or organizations with distributed IT infrastructure, ensuring uniform patch deployment across all endpoints can be a complex challenge.

• Decentralized IT management: Different departments or business units may manage their IT infrastructure separately, leading to inconsistent patching policies. Some systems may receive timely updates, while others remain vulnerable.
• Remote and hybrid workforce: Employees using remote or personal devices may not always be connected to corporate networks when patches are rolled out, making enforcement difficult.
• Lack of visibility & reporting: Without centralized monitoring, IT teams may struggle to track which systems are patched and which remain unpatched, leading to compliance risks.

The patch management lifecycle

Patch management is a continuous lifecycle because vendors regularly release new patches. It ensures that software patches are efficiently managed and deployed across an organization’s IT environment. Furthermore, a company’s patching needs may change as its IT environment changes.

Organizations establish formal patch management policies to outline the best practices that admins and end users should follow throughout the lifecycle. This process involves several key stages, each essential for maintaining the security, functionality, and compliance of IT assets. The stages of the patch management process include:

1. Asset management

Asset management is the foundation of the patch management lifecycle. In this stage, IT and security teams create a comprehensive inventory of all network assets, including third-party applications, operating systems, mobile devices, and both remote and on-premises endpoints. Standardizing the hardware and software versions across the organization simplifies the patching process by reducing the diversity of assets. This standardization also ensures that employees are not using outdated, unsafe, or incompatible applications and devices, which could otherwise complicate the patching process.

2. Patch monitoring

Once the asset inventory is established, the next stage in the patch management lifecycle is patch monitoring. IT and security teams continuously watch for the release of new patches and track the patch status of each asset within the organization. This stage is crucial for identifying assets that are missing patches and ensuring that all systems are up-to-date with the latest security and functionality updates. Effective patch monitoring enables teams to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and maintain the integrity of the IT environment.

3. Patch prioritization

Not all patches are created equal, and some are more critical than others, particularly when it comes to security. In this stage of patch management lifecycle, IT and security teams use resources like threat intelligence feeds to identify the most critical vulnerabilities within their systems. Patches addressing these high-risk vulnerabilities are prioritized over less essential updates.

Patch management best practices

Failing to patch software leaves organizations exposed to vulnerabilities that can be easily avoided. Industry best practice is to keep applications, operating systems, firmware, and services up to date with the latest security patches. Patches should be applied according to schedule and after discovering new vulnerabilities. Tracking patch management metrics is essential to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the patching process. Following are some best patch management practices that you must follow

• Categorize by risk and priority: From the patch management software perspective, not all applications, systems, and platforms are equal. After collecting an inventory of devices, segment all users and systems based on priority, such as risk level and the number of applicable and available patches.

• Utilize a patch-testing environment: Once a patch is released, there’s no guarantee that it will perform without any snag. Create a patching testing lab environment that mirrors the production environment. After patches are deployed in the lab, the IT security staff should monitor these for any updates and check to see if any breaks occur.

• Patch approval: It can be either manual or automated. The sheer volume of patch installation across enterprise servers, appliances, and the cloud can become an operational nightmare with the manual approach. Automated patch management tools are more sophisticated and automate repetitive, tedious tasks to shorten the time between a patch’s release and its implementation.

• Patch distribution: After approval, it’s time to roll out the patches. As a practice, deploy patches to a select group of devices after business hours. Monitor those patches and implement a disaster recovery plan if needed. Later, the deployment process to different device groups will be automated with patch management software.

• Document the patch management process: Once a document has been applied, it is important to check for improvements in the patching process. Keep a record of the process and procedure under the company’s IT security policies and procedures documentation. After deployment, use the patch management Program to produce a report of the status of your devices.

How to implement patch management in your organization

Here’s a breakdown of how to implement efficient patch management across your network’s systems:

1. Seeing the big picture: Centralized visibility

First things first: you need a clear view of all your network devices. This centralized view allows IT admins to understand each system’s patching status. With this knowledge, they can prioritize critical and important patches for timely deployment.

2. Scheduling deployments: Balancing security and productivity

Finding the right time to patch is crucial. Disruptions during work hours can be a pain for employees.  Patch management tools can help by scheduling deployments based on user availability and system uptime data. These tools can also automate patch deployment based on pre-defined policies. This includes configuring settings like automatic reboots after installation.

3. Patching every corner of the network

For businesses with a global workforce, patching strategies need to be comprehensive. This includes systems on the local network (LAN), remote offices (WAN), and even employee homes (for remote work).

4. Testing and reverting patches: Safety first

Before unleashing patches on your systems, always test them first. This ensures they function correctly without causing any issues. Once tested, deployment can proceed smoothly. However, even tested patches can sometimes go awry. That’s why it’s important to have a rollback plan in place. This allows admins to uninstall problematic patches from all affected systems.

Effective patch management with Scalefusion UEM

Companies can fall behind on patching for many reasons, including talent shortages, infrastructure complexity, and software compatibility issues. Manual patching is slow and error-prone which can hold open all discovered security flaws. Companies should utilize automated patch management solutions or endpoint management software offering patching capabilities to ease the operational burden on IT staff and minimize errors

Scalefusion UEM’s patch management solution helps IT teams automate the deployment of OS and software update patches to ensure the devices run on the latest OS, identify if there are any patches to mitigate vulnerabilities, and improve the security posture of the organization.

Get in touch with our experts to find out more about automated patch management using Scalefusion. Sign up for a 14-day free trial today!

References:
1. IBM

FAQs

1. What is a patch management system? 

A patch management system enables centralized patch management for your organization. It helps address security vulnerabilities by updating software and systems, enhancing both security and performance. This software ensures that your organization’s IT environment is secure, reliable, and up-to-date, improving overall security.

2. What are the three types of patch management?

Patch management is categorized into three types: security patches, bug fix patches, and feature updates. Security patches fix vulnerabilities in software, operating systems, or applications to prevent cyber threats like malware and data breaches. Bug fix patches resolve software glitches and performance issues, improving stability without addressing security concerns. Feature updates introduce new functionalities and enhancements to improve user experience and compatibility.

3. How often should patches be done?

Patches should be applied based on their criticality—security patches should be deployed immediately, while routine updates can follow a monthly or quarterly schedule. Implementing effective patch management techniques ensures timely identification, testing, and deployment of patches while minimizing system disruptions. Automated patch management tools help streamline the process, improving security and compliance.