Patch management comprises the process of acquiring, testing, and installing software updates (patches) to address issues in computer systems and applications. These patches fix security vulnerabilities, correct technical glitches, and increase functionality. Performing patch management regularly helps ensure your clients’ software and systems remain up-to-date, stable, and secure. It is among the most vital responsibilities managed service providers (MSPs) oversee for their partners. Staying on top of patch implementations alone could improve your data breach prevention odds by up to 60%. To help you manage that responsibility, this article will explain patch management and explore everything you need to know about it.

Understanding patch management

Patch management is absolutely critical to maintaining software and system security. Most importantly, it helps protect systems against known vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and data breaches. Compliance obligations also necessitate regular patching to adhere to industry standards and regulations. There are several different types of patches, each of which serves a distinct purpose:

1. Security patches: Security patches fix vulnerabilities to prevent cyberattackers from exploiting them. They also protect against malware, ransomware, and other malicious threats, making them a high priority in any patch management strategy.
2. Bug fixes: Bug fixes address errors or flaws in software that could cause it to behave unexpectedly or crash. Implementing these patches improves system stability and performance.
3. Feature updates: Feature updates add new functionalities or improve existing ones, helping to keep software relevant and efficient. While not always critical, feature updates can improve user experience and productivity.

In essence, effective patch management involves the timely application of system patches so you can minimize risks and maintain optimal system performance.

The importance of patch management

One tiny and overlooked vulnerability can cause hackers to take down and infiltrate an entire network. This is why automated patching is vital to large and small organizations alike. Consider the benefits of patch management below.

Enhancing security

According to the World Economic Forum, nearly 30% of organizations claimed that they had experienced a material cyber incident in the past year. However, implementing an automated patch management process acts as a first line of defense. Patch management improves IT security by reducing third-party software and operating system vulnerabilities as vendors’ internal teams and users discover them. Once these vulnerabilities and exploits become known to malicious agents, unpatched devices are at greater risk of exploitation. So, prompt patch deployment proves crucial. Some vendors also maintain regular patch schedules, such as Microsoft’s “Patch Tuesday,” which occurs monthly and can be automated. Regularly updating systems reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and malware infections. On the other hand, unpatched systems are more susceptible to cyberattacks, leading to potential financial loss, reputational damage, and data compromise.

Improving system performance

Another advantage of automated patch management is that it improves system performance by addressing bugs and optimizing software functionality. Performance-related patches can fix memory leaks, reduce crashes, and increase processing speed. For example, updates may improve application responsiveness, optimize memory usage, fix coding errors, or ensure better compatibility with hardware, all of which can result in a more efficient and stable system.

Compliance and regulatory requirements

Patch management will also help your clients comply with industry standards to avoid financial penalties and legal repercussions. Regular patching protects sensitive data and enables MSPs to keep their clients in adherence with regulations, such as the:

• European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• United States’ Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

The patch management process

Like many IT processes, patch management policies can differ depending on your organization. But, although some rules and regulations may be individual to a specific team, there is a standard workflow that the patch management process should follow. The fundamental steps of any patch management process include the following.

1. Identifying and prioritizing patches

The first step is identifying and prioritizing patches using vendor notifications and automated tools to detect necessary updates. Patches often get prioritized based on the following criteria:

• Severity of vulnerabilities
• Potential impact on system performance
• Criticality of affected systems

This approach ensures that your clients’ IT environment’s most critical and high-risk vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.

2. Testing patches

Next on the agenda is to test the patches before deployment to verify they won’t cause any system disruptions or conflicts. Some best practices to consider employing here include:

• Use a controlled test environment
• Apply patches to non-critical systems first
• Monitor for issues so you can respond quickly if needed

ConnectWise takes this a step further with our network operations center (NOC) team, which tests Windows security updates and publishes its findings a week after Patch Tuesday. What’s more, patching automation can be configured to only install NOC-approved updates, ensuring your team rolls out patches with minimal disruption to your clients’ operations.

3. Deploying patches

When you are ready to deploy patches, it’s a good idea to follow certain well-established strategies, including staggered rollouts and automated deployment. Staggered rollouts will allow you to monitor and address any issues incrementally while patching automation streamlines the process, reduces human error, and guarantees timely application across different environments. For critical client servers, the ConnectWise NOC team stands ready to assist with patch deployment and remediation services. This added layer of security ensures the most essential systems are correctly patched and any issues are promptly resolved.

4. Monitoring and reporting

Finally, it’s time to ensure that the deployed patches are effectively applied and functioning. Tools like ConnectWise remote monitoring and management (RMM) software’s automated systems and compliance dashboards enable you to track patch status and performance. Regular audits can further help identify gaps, verify compliance, and keep up with your client’s general IT maintenance.

Why MSPs need patch management

Ensuring your client’s software applications are up-to-date and secure is one of the first steps toward comprehensive cybersecurity. With just a little scheduling and organization, you can automate the first line of defense for many client systems and ensure their most relied on applications continue performing optimally. MSPs should also focus on airtight patch management for industries with compliance requirements. Many government agencies or private organizations that enforce compliance—especially in industries with extensive stores of sensitive data, like healthcare and banking—mandate companies within those sectors to operate on the latest software platforms and with the most recent patches implemented. These compliance obligations aim to reduce the risk of data breaches and network infiltrations by digital threat actors.

Best practices for effective patch management

Patch management is crucial when establishing and managing secure, high-performing systems for your clients. Following the patch management best practices below can keep IT environments well-protected and operational.

1. Establish a regular patching schedule

Creating a consistent patching schedule is fundamental to effective patch management. Regularly scheduled patches help prevent vulnerabilities from being exploited and keep systems up-to-date. While monthly or bi-monthly patch cycles are common, the key is regularity. Scheduled updates allow your team to plan, allocate resources efficiently, and minimize disruptions.

2. Use automation tools

RMM tools can make your patch management much more efficient and reliable. They automate the identification and deployment of patches, reducing the risk of human error and guaranteeing timely updates. Automation simplifies patch applications across multiple systems, providing a scalable solution for large and complex IT environments. By leveraging automation, you can streamline patch management processes and improve your clients’ overall security.

3. Stay informed of security vulnerabilities

It is critical to stay abreast of the latest security vulnerabilities and available patches. Resources like our cyber team’s threat report and NOC patch rollout report, for example, offer invaluable insights into risk assessment and mitigation strategies. While this is standard for our RMM solution, it’s worth noting that your clients are a prime target for cyberattacks. So, if you’re seeking to shore up your vulnerability management even further, consider our cybersecurity and data protection solutions.

4. Train your staff

Educating your staff about patch management procedures is important so they can carry out all these practices as needed. Armed with ConnectWise RMM, techs can focus more on evaluating device compliance, patch scheduling, and manual deployment (when necessary). Resources such as NOC reports can help keep your team updated on the latest patch management strategies and technologies. For particularly challenging client servers, you can train your team to collaborate with our always-on NOC services for critical expertise and problem resolution.

Partner with ConnectWise for the best patch management practice

Adhering to the best practices above can dramatically improve your patch management efforts, mitigate risks, and help you maintain secure and efficient IT environments for all your clients. For MSPs looking to further secure and streamline their patch management, consider partnering with ConnectWise. Our RMM software integrates your team with our network operations center to screen Windows updates, ensuring your clients stay secure. As an added service, you can even pass off patching to our NOC team entirely—from deployment and remediation—so your team can focus on more valuable projects. Curious how ConnectWise can elevate your patch management? Try a free demo of our RMM software to find out.