As a business owner, you know how important it is to keep your mission-critical systems updated and protected from vulnerabilities like cyberattacks. One easy way to ensure they continue running smoothly is with patch management, which involves identifying errors in their existing code and applying software patches to update, improve, or repair them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, how often should your IT team perform patch management to protect your systems from malware, viruses, and online threats? Depending on the size and complexity of your business, patch management should be performed routinely once a month, but it\u2019s best to patch more often if possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every month, your IT team should patch all operating systems, applications, and hardware drives to minimize disruptions and prevent security risks. Additionally, patching should include any third-party applications or services used in your business. These might be hosted software solutions, cloud-based services, or mobile apps used to access business data.\u200d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Within patch management, there are three types of patches your IT team can perform, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Security Patches:<\/strong> These patches patch vulnerabilities in hardware or software and are designed to protect your business from cyberattacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Bug Fixes: <\/strong>These patch errors in existing code that can cause the system to malfunction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Feature Patches: <\/strong>These patches provide new features for applications, operating systems, and other software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to patching your systems for security, patch management also delivers other benefits for businesses, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n3 Types of Patch Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4 Benefits of Patch Management<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n