Cybersecurity
Patch Management
Definition
Patch management is the process of distributing and applying updates to software. These patches are often necessary to correct errors (also referred to as "vulnerabilities" or "bugs") in the software.
Why It Matters
Keeping software up to date is one of the most critical and effective security measures. Many major breaches are caused by attackers exploiting known vulnerabilities for which a patch was available but had not been applied.
Contextual Example
A company's IT department uses a patch management system to automatically test and deploy the latest Microsoft security patches to all employee laptops every month. This ensures that known vulnerabilities are fixed promptly.
Common Misunderstandings
- A good patch management program involves identifying, acquiring, testing, and deploying patches in a timely manner.
- It can be a complex process in large organizations with many different types of systems.