How Patch Management Systems Secure & Protect Your Software Assets

What Is a Patch Management System and What Does it Do?

A patch management system automates and streamlines the process of updating and patching software assets. It does so by identifying patch requirements and downloading the necessary fixes, letting you test and install software updates.

Patch Management Software enables security patches to be quickly and securely rolled out across an organisation’s entire IT infrastructure. Ultimately, the goal is to keep operating systems, firmware, and software up-to-date. To achieve this, the primary objectives of a patch management system are:

• Maintaining Security: Security patches are applied as soon as they are available. This helps protect systems from cyber attacks and security incidents caused by known vulnerabilities.
• Better Stability: Regular patching fixes bugs and improves overall system performance, this reduces downtime and makes for a better user experience.
• Centralised Control: IT admins can manage and monitor patching across different devices and systems. This is done from a single graphical interface, saving hundreds of hours in manual patching and installing.
• Automated Workflows: Patch management systems streamline software updates with less manual intervention in software maintenance schedules.
• Assured Compliance: Many industries have strict regulatory requirements that outline software patching best practices. Tools like Software Asset Management and patch management systems help organisations stay compliant with these standards by implementing update schedules. This allows for the listing of potential downtime during patching.

Well-Known Software & IT Compliance Standards

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) for healthcare organisations
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) for companies handling credit card data
• SOC 2 (System and Organisation Controls) for service organisations
• NIST SP 800-53 (National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication) for federal information systems
• ISO 27001 (International Organisation for Standardisation) for information security management

The Importance of Deploying Patch Management Strategies

Mitigating Security Risks

Unpatched software introduces unnecessary and significant security risks. Cybercriminals will exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software to gain unauthorised access to systems. According to a 2023 report by Ponemon Institute, 60% of data breaches were caused by unpatched vulnerabilities (up from 57% in 2021).

Mitigation is key for maintaining security and helps to avoid unnecessary risks. Patching is one of the best ways to stay on top of your infrastructure’s security.

Reducing Operational Costs

Funding a patch management system is an investment that leads to savings in the long run. The average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million. Preventing security breaches and reducing system downtime saves money, while patch management and regular security hotfixes can prevent data breaches and lost productivity.

Maintaining Business Continuity

Unpatched systems have the potential to cause technical issues. Some systems are prone to crashes and performance problems when bug fixes are not immediately addressed. A patch management strategy that regularly updates your systems will improve system stability. This minimises disruptions to business operations and lost revenue.

An example where security patching was sorely lacking was the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017. It caused massive financial and reputational damage and impacted over 200,000 computers across 150 countries. It could have been largely prevented with proper patch management.

Enhancing Productivity

Patch management improves employee productivity by providing systems that perform well and maintain uptime. Up-to-date software usually offers performance improvements and new features. Organisations can take advantage of these benefits by boosting employee productivity and creating better user experiences.

How to Successfully Patch Software Assets

Patching software systems is not difficult, but it is time-consuming and has the potential to be disruptive. When planning a patch, send communications to the rest of the business, making everyone aware of the intended upcoming patch. Any identified issues during this process must be communicated. In worst-case scenarios, a rollback might need to be performed.

A recent example of a worst-case scenario is the Crowdstrike outage. It started on July 18th 2024 and was caused by an update via its Falcon product. The issue was caused by a bad driver, forcing thousands of Windows-based systems to crash. Unfortunately, a rollback in this instance was not possible so Microsoft released detailed steps to help customers resolve the issue. This situation highlights the importance of testing patches before rolling them out to live environments.

Below are seven steps that will help you to prepare a patching routine of your own.

1. Assess: Regularly scan your network to spot systems that need patching. Vulnerability scanners are usually used to detect missing patches and potential security risks. These scans will let you know which specific systems are affected.
2. Prioritise: One approach is to categorise patches based on how critical and potentially impactful the existing vulnerability is. A risk-based approach is ideal for prioritising patches and updates that address the most significant vulnerabilities first.
3. Test: Before deploying new patches, thoroughly test them in a controlled environment. Proper testing should include compatibility testing with existing software and systems in an isolated test environment.
4. Deploy: Patch management systems are the best and most convenient way to deploy patches across a network.
5. Verify: Confirming that the patches have been successfully installed on all targeted systems is important for tracking patch compliance. Again, automated tools can help speed up patch installation and system integrity.
6. Document: Maintaining detailed records of all patching activities for auditing and troubleshooting purposes is critical. Sharing knowledge alerts teams to what the current patch status is of your networked systems. Documentation should include patch details, deployment dates, and any issues encountered during the deployment.
7. Review: Conducting post-patching reviews allows you to identify any issues or areas for improving the process. Highlight any operational issues you experienced during your patching window, too.

5 Types of Software Patching Methods

1. Manual Patching

This is the most common method of patch management in small businesses. There are usually only a handful of servers, so the process doesn’t typically take too long. As you scale up a network’s size, manually installing software patches becomes increasingly time-intensive. For most medium to large-sized businesses, this is not feasible. There can be hundreds, or even thousands, of servers to maintain, making manual patching impossible.

2. Automated Patch Management

This is where patches are automatically downloaded and installed across a network. It’s efficient for large-scale deployments and is the preferred method for most medium to large-sized organisations. Always test patches before deploying them automatically, since bugs and compatibility issues are always a possibility. Luckily, most patch management systems will warn you about known issues before applying a potentially problematic update.

3. Group Policy Objects (GPO)

This method applies to Windows environments. GPOs can be configured to automatically install patches on machines within a domain, streamlining patching for Windows systems.

4. Mobile Device Management (MDM)

Organisations with a large mobile device footprint benefit from an MDM solution. MDM systems manage patching for smartphones and tablets and also offer security features. They also have features that prevent lost or stolen devices from being used by unauthorised users.

5. Cloud-based Patching

This method is ideal for companies with remote workers or cloud infrastructure. Remote patching services distribute and install patches on remote virtualised servers and other appliances in the cloud.

Best Strategic Approaches to Deploying Patch Management

Implementing a successful patch management strategy requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices:

• Build an Inventory: Maintain an up-to-date inventory of your network’s hardware and software assets. This allows you to assess your IT footprint. Automated discovery tools are a great way to ensure no devices are missed on your network. Physical checks are also necessary as some devices might not be detectable. This happens when some systems are misconfigured or disconnected from the network.
• Prioritise Critical Systems: To minimise disruptions, identify and prioritise mission-critical systems and applications for patching. In most cases, vulnerability scoring systems like CVSS are ideal for assessing vulnerabilities on your network. You can start mitigating and remediating vulnerabilities once you understand the full scope of issues.
• Establish a Testing Environment: Always test patches in a controlled environment before deploying them. You should never release an untested patch across a production network. Testing reduces the risk of patches causing unexpected issues while maintaining uptime on your crucial infrastructure.
• Create a Patching Schedule: Consideration has to be given to scheduling patches. This should be done during off-peak hours to minimise disruption to business operations if problems occur. Using scheduled automation to deploy patches helps to decrease the time taken to complete this important work.
• Have a Rollback Plan: Things don’t always go to plan. This is why you must have a strategy to revert changes if a patch causes unexpected issues. Your plan should include snapshots of virtual machines, system backups, and documented rollback procedures.
• Monitor and Report: Depending on your industry, you may need to regularly monitor the patching process. This often necessitates the generation of reports to ensure compliance and identify potential issues during this process. Dashboards are an excellent source of real-time data and can provide additional visibility into your patching status.
• End-User Training: Keeping employees in the loop is essential for securing your endpoint devices. Communicate with users about actions they need to take, such as rebooting a system to apply a patch. Users must complete updates without interruption to ensure the continued smooth operation of their equipment.
• Continual Policy Updates: Things change quite frequently in the cybersecurity landscape, and no single plan is immune to changes in requirements. You need to regularly review and update your patch management policy while adapting your strategy to changing needs and emerging threats as they come online. A general rule is to review your patch management strategy every quarter. This allows you to stay up to date with the latest threats and strategies used by cybercriminals.

What Is a Patch Management Policy?

A patch management policy is a document that outlines an organisation’s software update and security patch policies. It defines roles and responsibilities, as well as procedures. It also lays out timelines for patch deployments.

This policy ensures consistency and helps maintain security across all IT infrastructure. A well-crafted patch management policy should cover:

• Scope of systems and applications
• Patch assessment and prioritisation
• Testing procedures
• Deployment schedules
• Emergency patching protocols
• Compliance requirements

For a comprehensive template that covers all scenarios, see the Patch Management Policy Template from IT Governance UK.

Best Patch Management Systems For Securing Software Assets

• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM): Comprehensive endpoint management solution with deep Microsoft ecosystem integration. Best for large enterprises with complex Windows environments. Offers software distribution, OS deployment, and hardware/software inventory management.
• Ivanti Patch for Windows: User-friendly, Windows-focused solution with real-time patch intelligence and automated deployment. Supports both on-premises and cloud-based deployments. Suitable for organisations of all sizes seeking strong automation capabilities.
• SolarWinds Patch Manager: Integrates seamlessly with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). Offers granular control over patch management processes, pre-built and custom package deployment options, and detailed compliance reporting.
• ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus: Cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Features both on-premises and cloud-based deployment options with automated patch deployment and integrated vulnerability management.
• Automox: Cloud-native solution with real-time visibility across distributed environments. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. Ideal for organisations with remote workforces or distributed IT environments.
• Syxsense Manage: Cloud-based solution combining patch management, IT management, and security vulnerability scanning. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• GFI LanGuard: Provides patch management, vulnerability scanning, and network auditing. Well-suited for mixed environments with multiple operating systems.
• Kaseya VSA: Part of a broader IT management platform with many features. It offers patch management capabilities alongside remote monitoring, network discovery, and automated IT processes.