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.
Contrary to what most people believe, cyberattacks rarely rely on unknown vulnerabilities. Recent studies show that 60% of confirmed data breaches that occurred in 2023 involve vulnerabilities that have existing patches but were never applied. 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 identifying, testing, and deploying updates for Microsoft systems and applications. 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.
It follows a straightforward process: Windows scans for any missing patches, downloads and tests them to make sure that they won’t negatively affect system performance before deploying them to the appropriate devices.
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
Patch management is now considered a core component of an effective cybersecurity strategy. According to a 2024 Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), most exploited vulnerabilities are publicly known and already have patches available.
This means that enterprises should be able to quickly identify and remediate risks across all their endpoints, including their remote devices. Otherwise, these vulnerabilities can become entry points for ransomware attacks, credential theft, and remote code execution exploits.
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.
However, not all critical updates follow this schedule. There are times when Microsoft releases Out-of-Band (OOB) patches that target zero-day vulnerabilities, where threat actors exploit vulnerabilities the day they become known.
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 has several tools designed for managing updates across environments. Its built-in tool, Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), is one of the most widely used solutions for basic, on-premise patch management.
However, it has since been deprecated in September 2024 in favor of more modern, cloud-based solutions. Today, you can choose from a variety of patch management tools depending on your infrastructure and needs.
- Windows Update: The default patching service for individual devices. It’s primarily used in homes and small business environments.
- Windows Update for Business (WUfB): A cloud-based solution that allows you to manage update policies, deferrals, and deployment rings for hybrid environments.
- Microsoft Intune: A cloud-native endpoint management that enables you to control patching, device configuration, and security policies.
- Windows Autopatch: An automated service built on top of Intune, designed to deploy patch updates through rollout groups to minimize work disruption.
- Microsoft Configuration Manager (formerly SCCM): A more traditional, on-premise or hybrid solution typically used in large environments with legacy devices.
Common 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 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
👉 Automate patch deployment and cut patching time by up to 90% with NinjaOne. Learn how to set it up.
Windows patch management best practices for 2026
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.
Automate 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.
