Glossary
What is patch management?
Patch management is identifying, acquiring, testing, and deploying software updates—commonly called patches—to fix known vulnerabilities, bugs, or performance issues in applications, operating systems, and firmware. It ensures systems remain secure, functional, and compliant with internal and external requirements.
Patch management is a foundational cybersecurity practice that helps organizations reduce their attack surface and protect against known exploits.
Why is patch management critical?
Unpatched software is one of the most common entry points for cyberattacks. Exploits targeting known vulnerabilities—often published in CVE databases—are readily available and widely used by threat actors. Without timely patching, organizations risk:
- Data breaches and ransomware attacks
- Operational downtime and performance degradation
- Non-compliance with standards like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and NIST
- Reputational and financial harm due to preventable security failures
Patch management mitigates these risks by ensuring known issues are resolved before they can be exploited.
How to perform patch management:
A robust patch management process typically includes:
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Asset Discovery: Identify systems, applications, and devices in your environment.
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Patch Identification: Monitor vendors, threat feeds, and vulnerability databases for new patches.
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Patch Testing: Verify patch compatibility and impact in a test environment.
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Deployment Scheduling: Determine patch rollout timelines based on risk severity and business constraints.
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Patch Deployment: Use automated tools or manual processes to apply updates.
- Verification and Reporting: Confirm successful installation and document patch compliance.
Patch management tools often integrate with vulnerability scanners, ITSM platforms, and configuration management systems.
Benefits:
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Reduces Exposure to Known Threats: Close security gaps before attackers can exploit them.
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Improves System Stability and Performance: Fix bugs that may degrade user experience or system uptime.
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Streamlines Compliance: Meet regulatory and industry security mandates with documented patching.
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Supports Incident Prevention: Prevent recurring incidents caused by unpatched flaws.
- Enables Risk-Based Prioritization: Focus on high-risk vulnerabilities and critical systems.
Patch Management vs.
|
Term |
Focus Area |
Key Difference from Patch Management |
|
Vulnerability Management |
Risk identification and analysis |
Patch management is a component of the broader process. |
|
Configuration Management |
System settings and baselines |
Patch management focuses on software updates. |
|
Change Management |
Control of IT changes |
Patch management is one type of planned change. |
|
Threat Intelligence |
External threat data |
Informs patch prioritization but doesn’t deploy fixes. |
Limit attacks with patch management:
- Apply critical security patches promptly upon release
- Automate patch deployment for high-risk systems
- Prioritize patches tied to actively exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs)
- Maintain a regular patch cycle to reduce backlog and the window of exposure
Use cases:
- Ransomware Attack Surface Reduction: Minimize exposure to ransomware by rapidly patching known, high-risk vulnerabilities.
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Vulnerability Remediation in IT and OT Systems: Ensure timely and consistent patching across traditional IT and operational technology environments.
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Security Baseline Enforcement: Maintain standardized system configurations by aligning patch levels with defined security baselines.
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Cloud and Virtual Machine Patch Automation: Automate patch deployment across dynamic cloud instances and virtual machines to reduce manual overhead.
- Audit Preparation for Compliance Frameworks: Generate patching evidence and reports to demonstrate compliance with standards like NIST, ISO 27001, or PCI-DSS.
Additional considerations:
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Patch Exceptions: Some patches may require a delay due to legacy dependencies—document and mitigate with compensating controls.
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End-of-Life Systems: Unsupported software poses a significant risk—segment or replace where possible.
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Patch Frequency: Adopt a regular patch cadence and have a process for emergency patches.
- Cross-Team Coordination: Align IT operations and security teams to streamline patch deployment across environments.
