Equipping your organization with reliable patch management software is fundamental to making your business successful. This software can maintain the peak performance of every single device in the network and minimize the risk of experiencing a cyberattack by identifying and closing security vulnerabilities as quickly as possible.
The best patch management tools can make your business more effective, secure, and profitable. The main purpose is to minimize the workload of your security team and keep the software on every endpoint up-to-date.
Despite the widespread adoption of automated patch deployment tools, many companies continue to waste time by manually patching their systems, which is a time-consuming and expensive process that prevents business owners and IT teams from focusing on more important tasks. On the other hand, automated patch management software can execute the patching process quickly and error-free without requiring any human intervention.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of having reliable patch management software on your side. Further, we will explore all key features that such software must provide your organization with in order to keep every single endpoint secure and up-to-date.
What is a patch management solution used for?
Patch management software has become an inevitable part of every successful business. This software’s primary goal is to improve system security by automatically identifying and implementing crucial patches that address known software vulnerabilities.
Providing your organization with reliable patch management software will protect every single endpoint in your company’s network from a variety of potential security threats, malware, and hackers’ exploitation attempts. The patching process plays a key role in maintaining system stability and performance; implementing a reliable patch manager will guarantee keeping software assets up-to-date, fixing bugs, and improving overall system performance and reliability. This is particularly important for businesses operating in regulated industries, where maintaining update systems is not just a best practice but a compliance requirement.
One of the most significant advantages patch management solutions provide is the ability to centralize patch deployment by allowing IT teams to manage and distribute software updates across the company’s network from a single management console. This helps minimize the probability of human errors and ensures consistent updates throughout the organization. The main purpose of this type of software is to mitigate risks by reducing the potential window for cyber attacks and closing software vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
By using a patching tool, you can not only address security flaws in your software but also enhance system performance by fixing bugs and improving efficiency through the addition of new features. Furthermore, by scheduling updates based on your organization’s needs during non-critical hours, a patch management solution helps reduce operational interruptions, minimize system downtime, and ensure smooth implementation of the software updates, thereby maintaining business continuity and operational efficiency.
Simply put, by proactively addressing potential security risks and maintaining up-to-date software assets, businesses from different industries can significantly enhance their overall cybersecurity posture and reduce the chance of becoming a victim of a cyberattack.
What are the two main types of patch management software?
There are two types of patch management software: cloud and on-premises. A cloud solution is deployed by the vendor in their data center or a site such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. On-premises solutions are usually installed on the customer’s server. Some vendors offer both types of solutions that support multiple operating systems.
What are the core patch management solution features to look for?
As we already know, a patch management solution’s primary function is to automatically install missing patches on target devices and maintain them up to date. This prevents cybercriminals from exploiting software vulnerabilities, which could lead to catastrophic consequences for any organization. Keep in mind that patches are not responsible only for addressing software flaws; they have the ability to improve system performance and add new features to the software, which of course results in improved workflow efficiency.
Every business owner’s biggest fear is to face a successful cyberattack, because it can wipe out years of hard work with the speed of the blink of an eye. To avoid such an unpleasant scenario, it is mandatory to equip your organization with reliable and effective patch management software. If you are still in doubt about which vendor to choose for providing you with such software, don’t worry; we are here to help with that choice. In order to opt for the best patch management solution that fits your company’s needs, consider these key features:
Automatic real-time assessment, vulnerability discovery and patch deployment.
An automated patch management solution must be able to provide your company with automated real-time assessment and detection of outdated systems. Further, by using such software, you can schedule and automate patch deployments, minimizing the need for manual intervention and guaranteeing your endpoints receive the latest patches as soon as they become available.
Thus, you will have peace of mind knowing that every device connected to the network is patched, and the chance of a cybercriminal exploiting a software vulnerability is reduced almost to zero.
Patch Prioritization
Prioritizing updates based on their severity is fundamental to deploying patches according to their importance. Remember that you should always start with the most critical patches, such as those that address software flaws, before moving on to those that introduce new features to enhance your system’s performance.
A reliable patch manager will provide timely notifications about the available updates, helping you prioritize which patches are most urgent based on their potential security impact. There is an option to schedule these updates to be installed automatically, based on their risk level, to close the security vulnerabilities as quickly as possible.
OS and third-party patching
When choosing the right vendor for patch management, pay attention to whether it is able to cover all the operating systems used in your organization (Windows, macOS, Linux). Operating system support is vital, but being able to patch all of the third-party applications that your company’s using is equally important in the mission of addressing software flaws and securing your endpoints.
It is well-known that unpatched third-party applications can frequently lead to cyberattacks. To prevent such catastrophic scenarios, it is essential to use patch management software, which offers the key feature of automatically patching third-party software to reduce the likelihood that cybercriminals will exploit a security vulnerability and prevent system downtime.
Central Update Repository
One of the most significant advantages patch manager offers is the ability to download the latest patches from a secure repository. Because hackers can strategically launch a virus or malware into an update that appears to resolve software vulnerabilities, but in reality, it can trigger a sophisticated cyberattack.
Ability to Create Testing Environments
This feature will enable your organization to establish test groups for assessing new patches before their complete implementation in your network, thereby reducing the possibility of disturbances to your entire IT system during patch deployment.
Testing patches is an absolutely mandatory process in order to guarantee that the patch works as expected without disrupting the workflow or causing other system issues. Your company can create a test environment to test new patches before deploying them across the entire network.
Patch Installation Policies
Patch installation policies establish intelligent, predetermined guidelines that dictate the process, timing, and selection of patches for installation. Think of it like a traffic control system for your software updates, ensuring everything moves smoothly and safely.
Scheduled or Triggered Patch Installation
This feature offers flexibility in deploying patches, either on a predetermined schedule or based on specific triggers, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations.
User Notification
This feature enhances communication and readiness by enabling you to notify impacted users via email or message about impending updates, which includes details about possible system reboots and other important information.
Rollback Capability
Rollbacks serve as a safeguard in case an update causes unexpected issues. If something goes wrong, you can quickly revert to the previous software version, preventing potential system-wide issues and reducing downtime.
Remote System Reboot
Remotely rebooting systems during the update process allows for automatic system restarts throughout your network, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This feature guarantees the efficient completion of critical updates, even in situations where your team is not physically present.
Command-Line Script Execution
Provides the ability to run command-line, bash, and PowerShell scripts on target systems, offering advanced configuration and management options.
Post-Update Application Verification
Checking system stability and performance after update installation is fundamental in order to ensure that everything works as expected and without any disruptions. Keep in mind that it is important to monitor the system performance for 48–72 hours after the patch deployment.
Integration Capabilities
Another crucial aspect to take into account when choosing the right patch management software for your organization is its ability to seamlessly integrate with existing systems:
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Vulnerability management systems
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Project management systems
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Backup systems
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Windows Update Services (WSUS)
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Systems management tools (SCCM, Puppet)
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Inventory management software
By ensuring your patch management solution includes these advanced features, you can create a robust, efficient, and secure approach to maintaining your organization’s IT infrastructure. The right patching tool will not only protect your systems but also streamline the entire patch management process.
What other considerations are important?
When selecting a reliable patch management solution for your company, it’s important to consider additional factors beyond its core features. Now that we are aware of the essential features, let’s explore additional factors to help you make the most informed decision:
Ease of use and simplicity of deployment
A suitable patch management tool should be simple to install and use. It must have an intuitive interface without freezes or lags, as well as clear documentation on all product features. If the solution is on-premises, it should support both Windows and Linux operating systems, and if it utilizes a web interface, it should be compatible with all popular browsers.
Impact on system performance
Ideally, a patch management tool should consume little computing resources and not impact the performance of any business systems. At the local level, the system should interact well with the operating system components responsible for updates without allowing them to heavily load the system during a patch application. By limiting the number of updates downloaded to devices simultaneously, the tool should also minimize the network load.
Agent-based vs agent-less
A patch management system may or may not rely on agents. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Many patch management solutions offer both options.
Agent-based approach
In an agent-based approach, an agent on the device has the ability to identify missing patches and install them using local system permissions. This naturally requires the installation of an agent on each target system. It is a plus if the patch management tool can do this automatically using a service account or local account whose credentials you provide; otherwise, you will have to install the agent manually using scripts or special software such as SCCM.
The key advantage of this approach is that the agent and server can create an encrypted tunnel and exchange data without fear of compromise. Accordingly, this option is recommended for cloud-based patch management solutions.
However, using agents can lead to performance degradation on the device or even to a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in extreme cases, such as a poor-quality agent update from the vendor. Also, APT groups look for vulnerabilities in agents that they can abuse to execute their code on the device.
Agent-less approach
Most agent-less patch management solutions use a service account to connect to devices and install updates. Naturally, this avoids the work of installing agents and the risks associated with them.
However, this approach carries the risk of an unprotected data channel and the potential for malicious use of the service account.
Therefore, the best place to use an agent-less server patch management system is inside an on-premises environment’s protected network perimeter.
Vendor support
The vendor should provide customer support 24/7 via email, live chat, or by phone. Experienced technicians must be able to resolve issues with installing, configuring, and using the tool. It is particularly important for vendors to help solve problems related to failed patch installation, since missing patches leave your company vulnerable to security breaches.
RMM tool integration
Remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools often include patch management functionality. When you need to quickly resolve an update failure issue, a combined solution proves to be quite convenient. Often, you can apply security patches and manage remote systems using the same agent. In addition, eliminating the need to buy two separate tools can reduce costs.
Security of the patch management product
Patch management tools modify and install software on devices throughout the IT ecosystem, which makes them a powerful tool for attackers. For example, an adversary who compromises a patch management tool could use it to spread ransomware to multiple devices. Accordingly, be sure to look for the following security features:
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Multi-factor authentication (MFA) must be required for all administrative accounts.
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Role-based access control (RBAC) is necessary to allow only certain employees to update and manage certain systems using a least privilege model.
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All databases used by the solution should be encrypted.
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All configuration files should be encrypted.
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If the patch management solution is running in the cloud, it should be SoC 2 and ISO27001 certified, and the system should be protected against OWASP top 10 and DDoS attacks.
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The signatures of both the update repositories and the patches should be verified.
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The checksums of update distributions should also be checked to avoid spoofing.
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Under no circumstances should an on-premises patch management system interface be exposed to the internet; it should be used only inside a secure perimeter with proper network security.
Price
The price of a patch management solution will depend on its features, quality, support, and other factors. Be sure to assess whether particular capabilities are actually useful to your organization. As a general rule, such a tool should not be more expensive than Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager.
Patch Management Compliance
Regulatory compliance has become a fundamental concern for organizations from all industries. Companies must strictly adhere to these regulatory requirements, which many business owners find to be among the most challenging tasks. Nowadays, effective patch management tools can definitely ease this process and help meet regulatory frameworks, such as PCI, DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, CIS, CSC, and GDPR.
Automated compliance documentation will help your company create precise, detailed reports that capture the entire patching process. Manually tracking updates is a long-gone process; with patch management software, companies can now rely on automated systems that are able to create detailed audit trails, generate detailed reports, provide verifiable evidence of timely vulnerability remediation, and, of course, document each patch installation with precision.
Nowadays, every business owner is aware that reliable patch management software significantly simplifies this process, a benefit that was unimaginable ten or fifteen years ago. Comprehensive reporting and tracking features include automated compliance certificates, detailed patch history logs, clear change management records, and last but not least, comprehensive vulnerability tracking.
Thus, patch management compliance will no longer be the time-consuming and disturbing manual process from which every IT team remains terrified. With the right patch management software, your company can transform regulatory requirements from a challenge into a strategic advantage.
Effective and reliable patch management is critical to cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, user productivity, and business continuity, so choose your patch management solution wisely. Carefully assess your needs and IT architecture to determine what functionality you require. To justify the budget, calculate the time savings it will provide for your IT teams and quantify the risks and costs it will help your organization avoid by ensuring that your systems are properly updated.
The Ultimate Patch Management Solution!
Action1 reinvents patching with an infinitely scalable, highly secure, cloud-native platform configurable in 5 minutes — it just works and is always free for the first 100 endpoints, with no functional limits. Featuring unified OS and third-party patching with peer-to-peer patch distribution and real-time vulnerability assessment with no VPN needed, it enables autonomous endpoint management that preempts ransomware and security risks, all while eliminating costly routine labor. Trusted by thousands of enterprises managing millions of endpoints globally, Action1 is certified for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The company is founder-led by industry veterans Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, who founded Netwrix, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry-leading cybersecurity company.
