A huge piece of an IT pro’s job is keeping your systems secure and up and running. Patch management, therefore, is one of the vital tasks that is undertaken in order to maintain system health, which includes updating software to rectify vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and keep things working at the best possible efficiency. This is all very well, but manually managing patches on all your systems can be a time-consuming, error-prone and downright frustrating process.

This is where automating patch management comes in. There are about 7 lines in Python code that will save you time updating any of your systems while ensuring that everything remains updated in the background without any hassle. This article will guide you through patch management automation — what it is, why it’s important, and how you can apply it efficiently in your organization.

What is Patch Management?

Getting a grip on patch management before delving into automation

Patch management refers to the process of:

• Identifying
• Testing
• Installing patches (also called software updates) for software applications and operating systems.

These patches may be security updates, bug fixes or even performance improvements. Patch management is about applying these updates at the earliest possible hour so that all the systems are secure and in good standing.

Patching is easy in theory, but it gets complicated in a larger environment with a plethora of systems and software. That’s where patch management automation comes in handy, as it streamlines the process ensuring that patches are consistently applied sprawling across all systems.

Why is Patch Management Important?

Patch management is especially important for a few reasons:

• Security: Most cyberattacks use previously known bugs in software. These vulnerabilities are normally fixed when patches are issued, decreasing the chance of a cyberattack.
• System performance: Updates frequently contain fixes and enhancements for existing bugs, potentially increasing the responsiveness and reliability of your systems.
• Regulatory Compliance: The nature of several industries requires following specific regulations that call for routine updating of software. Automation of patch management enables you to keep compliant with regulations, without the fear of missed patches.
• Cost Efficiency: Avoiding downtime and performance issues by ensuring systems are up to date saves costs. You avoid serious security breaches, which can lead to costly data recovery processes.

What is Patch Management Automation?

Patch management automation involves using tools and software to automatically detect, test, and apply patches to systems with minimal manual intervention. The new platforms also include automated tools that scan systems for missing patches, download required updates, and install them on every device in a network.

By automating this process, organizations can:

• Reduce risk of vulnerabilities by ensuring all systems are patched in time.
• Avoid manually combing through new releases to track down missing patches.
• Become more strategic by freeing up IT staff to spend their time on other tasks (patch management can often be a repetitive and very long job).

Automated Patch Management: Factors to Consider

Here’s a look at some core advantages of automating patch management:

1. Lower Cybersecurity Threats

Reducing the cyber threat with patching automation is one of the significant benefits. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in systems that have fallen out of date, and with automated patch management, you can plug these holes as soon as a patch is released. This secures sensitive data, mitigates malware attacks, and safeguards your business against changing threats.

2. Minimized Downtime

Patching can cause issues, especially when it is done manually. Thanks to automation, patches can be applied during off-hours or scheduled windows, which reduces disruption for employees or customers. Additionally, automation can manage reboots or system restarts after updates to minimize downtime.

3. Audit and Compliance Readiness

For businesses within regulated industries (healthcare, finance, and so forth), maintaining up-to-date systems is more than best practice; it’s a legal requirement. Automate patch management to ensure compliance through regular patch application and detailed logs of all updates. It hence becomes easy to pass the audits and avoid penalties.

4. Time and Resource Savings

Especially in big organizations, patch management is a tiresome job on its own. The process is made faster, more reliable, and more human resource-efficient. This can often save IT teams time by allowing them to focus on more critical tasks, rather than managing individual patches for every single device.

5. Consistency Across All Systems

Automation of patch management guarantees uniformity in all systems. Automated tools ensure that patches are uniformly applied to your entire network, whether you have ten devices or thousands. This reduces the likelihood of human error and guarantees that no system is missed.

Efficient Ways to Implement Patch Management Automation

Now that we understand the benefits, let us view the most effective approaches to automate patch management for your business.

1. Select the Appropriate Patch Management Software

Step one in automation: Selecting a Patch Management Tool
There are tons of tools with varying features and functionality. Look for software that:

• Supports all the software and systems you use (e.g., operating systems, applications, etc.).
• Provides scheduling and reporting functions.
• Allows testing of patches before they are rolled out.
• Lets you see the patch status in real-time across your network.

Examples of popular patch management tools are ManageEngine Patch Manager Plus and SolarWinds Patch Manager. They provide end-to-end patching for Windows and non-Windows systems.

2. Patch Scanning and Deployment Automation

After you have selected your patch management software, configure it to automatically scan for patches that are missing. Most tools automatically find out which systems need the patches, so you don’t have to keep track of those manually. The software can automatically download vulnerabilities and deploy patches after scanning.

Ensure that you are scheduling these scans weekly or daily so that any new patches are not applied without notice.

3. Deploy Only Tested Patches

While automation can increase the efficiency with which you patch, it is still critical to test them before pushing them out across your entire network. Some patches can introduce compatibility problems or even break some apps. A large number of patch management tools provide the ability to set up staging environments in which you can deploy patches, even if it’s only with a small percentage of systems, before rolling it out for the entire organization.

This process can help ensure that patches do not interfere with key business functions.

4. Apply Hotfixes After-hours

Patching can sometimes slow systems down or require a reboot. Schedule patching for low-impact windows like overnight or as part of a weekend shift to minimize service disruptions. Many of these tools allow you to configure “windows” for patch deployment, helping to ensure that critical updates don’t interfere with employees’ work.

5. Tracking and Reporting on Patch Status

Even if you automate, you should still monitor patching progress and generate periodic reports. This enables you to confirm that patches have been successfully applied on every machine. Many patch management solutions also provide dashboards that enable you to monitor the patch status of an extensive list of applications in real-time, and generate compliance reports for auditing purposes.

6. Keep Backup Systems and Rollback Options

Some patches, though rare, can break your systems. Always have a backup plan just in case. Most patch management software gives you rollback features that help you quickly undo a patch if it causes issues. Before applying patches, it’s also good practice to back up data deemed critical to the function of the organization to ensure it isn’t lost in the event of something going wrong.

Conclusion

IT departments striving to maintain secure, up-to-date, smooth operations can consider patch management automation to be the holy grail for success. With automated patching, you can mitigate cyber threats, reduce downtime, leverage time and resources, and maintain compliance with regulations.

The best and most effective way to automate your patch management process is through the right choice of tool, letting the scanning and deployment process automation, checking, and monitoring of the patches results. So, with these practices in place, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your systems secure: no more manual patch management headaches!

Keeping up with patches isn’t just important in today’s fast-paced digital world, it’s crucial for keeping your data hidden and your business running smoothly.