Patch management is the process of identifying, acquiring, testing, and installing patches or updates to software applications and operating systems to address vulnerabilities, bugs, and security issues.
The main goal of patch management is to keep systems up-to-date and secure by ensuring that all software and systems are running the latest patches and updates. This helps to prevent cyber attacks, data breaches, and system failures that can result from unpatched vulnerabilities.
Patch management typically involves the following steps:
1. Identification: This involves monitoring vendor websites, security advisories, and other sources to identify new patches and updates that need to be applied.
2. Acquisition: Once patches are identified, they need to be acquired from the vendor or other trusted sources.
3. Testing: Before deploying patches to production systems, they should be tested in a controlled environment to ensure they do not cause any compatibility issues or system failures.
4. Deployment: Once patches have been tested and approved, they can be deployed to production systems using automated patch management tools or manual processes.
5. Monitoring: After patches have been deployed, systems should be monitored to ensure that they are functioning properly and that the patches have been successfully applied.
Overall, patch management is an essential part of maintaining a secure and stable IT environment and should be done regularly to protect against potential security threats.