Key Points
- Follow a consistent schedule: Use Patch Tuesday releases to plan regular updates and minimize security gaps.
- Use automation tools: Automate patch detection, deployment, and reporting to improve accuracy, compliance, and visibility across devices.
- Test and prioritize updates: Validate patches before rollout, prioritize critical security updates, and back up systems to reduce risk.
- Monitor and document compliance: Track patch status, verify installations, and maintain audit trails to meet organizational or regulatory standards.
- Leverage centralized management: Utilize tools like WSUS, Intune, or third-party patch management solutions for unified control over all Windows endpoints.
57% of those who have experienced a cyberattack claim that the attack wouldn’t have happened had they simply applied an available patch. That’s a hard pill to swallow. Especially when specific tools and software are available to help simplify and streamline the patch management process. Windows patch management is vital for organizations with Windows endpoints to keep their devices updated and secure.
What is Windows patch management?
Windows patch management is the process of updating or fixing Microsoft systems using patches created for Windows devices. These patches work to harden devices, and protect them from outside cyberattacks and threats. It also ensures that the software functions properly and runs smoothly. Patch management software for Windows devices allows you to efficiently execute the patch management process.
Automate patching for your Windows endpoints and applications with NinjaOne.
Why Windows patch management is important
Practicing efficient Windows patch management does not only protect against vulnerabilities, it also ensures optimal device performance. Robust Windows patch management solutions can automatically assess and prioritize critical patches over others. They do this based on the possible risks and negative effects, or the likelihood of vulnerability exploitation.
What are the benefits of Windows patch management?
Protects against known Windows threats
Microsoft reports, “Attacks that impact customers’ systems rarely result from attackers’ exploitation of previously unknown vulnerabilities. Rather, they exploit vulnerabilities for which patches are available but not applied.” Efficient patch management can quickly patch Windows devices before attackers try to enter the system.
Preserves and supports Windows endpoints
Windows patch management helps you save money and lower costs that are associated with the management and upkeep of your Windows endpoints. This includes device support and repair. The patch management of Windows servers is also critical because of the far-reaching effects of a server endpoint.
Meet compliance requirements
To ensure your business maintains compliance, effective Windows patch management is critical. \Meeting compliance standards means that every component in your IT environment needs to remain secure. This is regardless of whether it is made up entirely of Windows devices or consists of just a few.
What is Patch Tuesday?
Patch Tuesday is the term used for Microsoft’s software patches and security updates. Patch Tuesday happens monthly on every second Tuesday.
The patches released on Patch Tuesday are typically to address vulnerabilities in Windows systems, specifically the desktop, and server. Additionally, the patches may update or fix other Microsoft software and applications, such as Azure or Microsoft Office.
What are the types of Windows patches?
Microsoft has multiple types of patches or updates. However, the two most common types you will hear about are feature updates and quality updates:
1. Feature updates
Windows feature updates are when Microsoft adds new features to its existing products. These updates are released annually.
2. Quality updates
Windows quality updates are made up of four subtypes. These include security updates, critical updates, servicing stack updates, and driver updates. Quality updates are usually the updates that are released on Patch Tuesday. This means that they are largely security fixes, but they can also be non-security focused.
Does Microsoft have a patch management tool?
Microsoft’s free patch management tool is known as Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). WSUS is available on the Windows Server Operating system. It is used to initiate and deploy patches to endpoints from the server.
This free patching tool may be beneficial if basic Windows patching is all you need. However, it is lacking if you need more than that. WSUS uses push-style patching, which means that it just sends the patches directly to the endpoints regardless of their status. It can’t pull information from the endpoint. This means that it doesn’t know what patches are missing or needed, and it doesn’t know if a patch was successfully applied to a system.
SCCM was a paid Microsoft endpoint management tool used in conjunction with WSUS. SCCM would manage devices, while WSUS would patch those devices. SCCM is now a component of Microsoft Configuration Manager. This is part of the Microsoft Intune family of products. Microsoft Configuration Manager is their endpoint management product, and using this product you can manually or automatically deploy software updates.
What Is WSUS Patch Management?
WSUS is a free tool provided by Microsoft for managing patches and updates. It allows administrators to control which patches are approved for installation. It will also deploy those updates at scale to specific devices.
As a free patch management tool, WSUS patch management can be a solid choice for businesses that only require basic Windows patching. WSUS uses push-style patching. This means that patches are directly sent to the endpoint devices regardless of their status. WSUS is unable to pull information from the endpoint. As a result, it doesn’t know what patches are missing or needed, or if a patch was successfully applied to a system.
Windows patch management challenges
If there’s one thing that IT teams can agree on, it’s that patching is hard. There are many patch management challenges that apply broadly. But there are three specific challenges of Windows patch management:
1. Volume of Windows patches
Microsoft releases patches all the time, and there are a lot of them. It can be difficult to keep track of them all while efficiently applying them to your IT environment. Patches are typically related to security. It’s critical to make sure you account for all the available Windows patches.
2. Broken Windows patches
Often, the patches received for Windows devices may be broken. Alternatively, the patches may inadvertently break stuff in other workflows. You need to be able to patch, but you also need to be able to revert if you do break something.
3. Compliance management
For organizations that must follow industry regulatory standards, deploying patches consistently is vital to protect sensitive data. Having full visibility of patch status and when patches have been deployed helps with regulatory patch audits.
4. Patch prioritization
Assessing which Windows patches must be pushed out first can be challenging. Especially because it requires expert knowledge and analysis.
A robust patch management software can simplify this process. It does this by automatically identifying crucial patches and deploying them at scale to address vulnerabilities.
5. Application of Windows patches
You need to make sure your Windows endpoints are patched and patched quickly. The generally heterogeneous nature of IT environments also means that no one is starting from the same place. Within an environment, you may have very different versions of Windows, which complicates the patch management application process.
The patch management lifecycle of your Windows devices is also something you need to take into account. Especially when determining how to effectively apply Windows patches.
6. Lack of device visibility
Without full visibility of patch status and history, IT administrators will not be able to monitor missed Windows patches. This could ultimately could lead to exploitable vulnerabilities and possible performance issues.
To address this, consider utilizing Windows endpoint management tools to monitor and manage all your devices in real-time and identify any critical patching failures.
How to automate Windows patch management
Windows patch management can be automated using policies on third-party patching software. Automation features help to streamline and speed up your patch management process.
When you set up a patching policy, you can determine:
- When you want to identify patches
- When you want to deploy them
- What types of patches you want to approve and deploy automatically
Windows patch management best practices
Ensure the security and stability of your device systems with these best practices for Windows patch management:
Regular Scheduling
Establish a consistent schedule for applying patches. Since Microsoft typically releases patches on “Patch Tuesday”, plan your patch deployment schedules around these dates.
Automation
Leverage IT automation software to streamline the patch management process. Automation tools can detect missing updates, schedule consistent distribution of patches and updates, simplify compliance with industry regulations, and more.
Continuous monitoring
Monitor and scan the assets in your IT environment to detect signs of vulnerability or instability. It will also deploy the proper updates quickly.
Backup your devices
Utilize a backup solution so that you can back up your Windows systems before applying any patches. In some rare instances, something can go wrong in the patching process and jeopardize the safety of sensitive business data.
Find out how NinjaOne helps you keep all your Windows systems secure and up-to-date.
Automated Windows patch management with NinjaOne
Windows handles patch management natively but doesn’t give you visibility, control, or the ability to ensure that you’re patched in a timely manner. Additionally, a lot of patching tools are designed to be used on a network, which doesn’t work well for remote employees who require a remote solution.
NinjaOne provides Windows patch management software to help you more effectively patch your Windows devices. It provides features such as automated remote patch management, a patch status dashboard, and compliance reporting. NinjaOne also allows you to leverage a WSUS server by pulling patches directly from the Microsoft cloud, ensuring you don’t miss any available Windows patches. Start increasing the efficiency of your Windows patch management and sign up for a free trial today.
