Key Points
- Patch management involves the systematic creation, testing, and deployment of updates to address security flaws, fix software issues, and introduce new features across systems and applications.
- To maximize effectiveness, focus on critical updates first, validate patches in a controlled environment, and maintain a consistent update cycle.
- Patch management tools streamline the process by automating discovery, assessment, deployment, and reporting, ensuring updates can be applied reliably and with minimal disruption.
As malware attacks continue to rise and evolve, effective patch management is also becoming more valuable. And so, for cybersecurity engineers and IT administrators, staying ahead of vulnerabilities is not just a best practice—it’s a necessity.
This guide provides a common understanding of what patch management is and why it’s crucial in managed IT environments.
What is patch management?
Patch management is the process of creating, testing, and deploying software updates to various endpoints. These updates, also known as “patches,” improve the current software by fixing technical issues, tightening security, or releasing new features.
If you want to audit your existing process, check out this video on “Patch Management Mistakes and How to Avoid Them” to learn what pitfalls to avoid.
Automate your patching process and reduce manual workloads with NinjaOne.
Patch management process: an overview
Traditional patching workflows can take a significant amount of time and resources, especially if you have a fleet of IT assets to manage. To streamline the process, focus on these critical steps during each patch cycle:
- Inventory and discovery
- Categorization and research
- Policy creation
- Testing
- Documentation
- Deployment
- Auditing
- Monitoring and reporting
- Review, improve, and repeat
For a deeper dive into each step, see our comprehensive Patch Management Process guide.
Overall, the patch management process takes shape by identifying and organizing all IT assets into risk-based categories, then creating policies to schedule and deploy updates. After testing patches in a controlled environment and documenting changes, the final step is to release the patches and audit their performance for any issues.
What are the benefits of patch management?
One of the main goals of patching is to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. But more than that, it constantly improves IT workflows, facilitates important technical updates, and addresses compliance gaps.
- Security: Identifies and resolves vulnerabilities, preventing cyberattacks and malware from compromising business operations.
- Innovation: Enables the addition of new features and upgrades, improving user experience and extending system functionality.
- Compliance: Ensures adherence to cybersecurity standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and frameworks such as NIST and ISO/IEC 27002, while providing documentation for audits.
- Efficiency: Automates the patching process, saving time and reducing manual workloads, allowing IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives.
By prioritizing patch management, organizations not only mitigate risks but also optimize their IT infrastructure for long-term success.
What is patch management software?
Patch management is traditionally a resource-intensive task, even requiring constant oversight during routine updates and more so amid critical deployments. These challenges were persistent until organizations began implementing patch management software, which automated and simplified the lifecycle of updates.
The key functions that patch management software provides include:
Automation and deployment
Automation reduces the need for human intervention. With patch management software, you can identify, download, and deploy OS and application patches without manual effort.
Reporting and documentation
Effective patch management solutions consolidate and filter key data, often in one dashboard, making reporting streamlined. With all the necessary information readily available, generating reports on security vulnerabilities, patch compliance, and patch deployments becomes a simple process.
IT asset visibility
Clear visibility is essential for monitoring and controlling operating systems because it takes guesswork out of the equation. Patch management software provides complete visibility into the entire IT portfolio, accelerating internal workflows and allowing organizations to readily demonstrate compliance.
Remediation and recovery
Remediation processes ensure the security of operating systems and endpoints. Usually, through task automation, patch management software identifies and fixes known issues to return systems to normal without disrupting productivity.
Manage patches across Windows, macOS, and Linux seamlessly.
Types of patch management software
There are multiple types, or categories, of patch management software on the market. Some common types of patch management software are:
1. Automated patch management
Automated patch management software performs patching and other functions automatically, without human intervention. It’s efficient, easy to use, and gets the job done quickly.
2. Open-source patch management
Open-source patch management software is “free” software that is available for all to use. The drawback of open-source patching software is that it tends to be limited to the most basic functions and does not always support scalability.
3. Cloud-based patch management
Cloud-based patch management software allows you to patch on- and off-network devices. Cloud-based software is essential for businesses that operate with a partly or fully remote workforce.
Patch Management as a Service (PMaaS) is a solution offered by IT service providers to lessen the impact of patching tasks on overburdened IT teams. Businesses can choose from multiple vendors and eliminate the hassle of patch management by taking care of the function automatically using the as-a-Service model.
While patch management is critical to an IT team’s success, with the buildup of responsibility, it can often be overlooked. NinjaOne offers patch management solutions for Windows, macOS, Linux, and more to help your overburdened IT team.
Examples of patch management
Patch management may come in different forms of actions that are significant to the protection of IT systems. These actions may include the following:
| Type | Description | Example |
| Operating system patching | Major operating systems release essential updates to address vulnerabilities, bugs, and performance improvements. | Microsoft’s “Patch Tuesday” updates for Windows, macOS security updates, and bug fixes for built-in macOS apps. |
| Third-party applications | Applications receive updates through app stores or developer sites to maintain security and functionality. | Google Play Store updates for Android apps, App Store updates for iOS/iPadOS apps, and patches from developer websites. |
| Firmware updates | Devices like routers and IoT devices require firmware patches to fix bugs or enhance security, often delivered over the air (OTA). | Router firmware updates, smart device security patches, and OTA updates for IoT devices. |
| Industry-specific software | Specialized systems, such as those in healthcare or finance, are updated primarily to meet compliance requirements. | Patching Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems to comply with HIPAA regulations. |
Other third-party applications may routinely receive online updates from their respective developer sites. These patches may include essential updates for maintaining security and functionality.
Best practices in patch management
Adopting patch management best practices ensures effective and consistent results:
Prioritize critical updates
As mentioned in ways to improve patch management strategies, you should first focus on patches that address high-severity vulnerabilities. Effective vulnerability management can give you an idea of which endpoints are the most susceptible, so you can put them first in line for immediate patching.
Test patches before deployment
Testing patches in a staging environment ensures that the updates you plan to deploy will do what they are supposed to and will not introduce more unwanted issues into the system.
Schedule regular updates
Use your preferred patch management software to automate scheduled deployments of the patch management policy. Make it a habit to create a patching schedule plan to ensure updates occur consistently.
Maintain an inventory of assets
A great IT management solution may offer a unified platform where you can simultaneously perform automated patch management and IT asset management. This can help you keep track of all hardware and software within a centralized platform, ensuring no systems are overlooked.
Stay informed. Subscribe to vendor notifications to stay updated on new patches and vulnerabilities. Most of these updates highlight the importance of patching in cybersecurity and enhancements in IT system performance.
Enhance your IT infrastructure’s security and efficiency with robust patch management tools.
Start a free trial of NinjaOne Patch Management
Optimizing your patch management workflow
With every passing year, internal enterprise IT teams and MSPs rely more and more on patch management software to keep their systems running smoothly. From creating policies to deploying patches, patch management software can automate various routine tasks to make patching quicker and easier.
To learn more about patch management and what it entails, download our patch management best practices guide. At NinjaOne, we are proud to offer the best patch management software on the market. Sign up for a free trial today, and see for yourself how you can benefit from using NinjaOne.
Related topics:
