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Why is Patch & Update Management Vital to Business Security?

December 23, 2020 by Kyle Kenyon

Why is Patch & Update Management Vital to Business Security?

One feature of technology that not everyone loves is that it’s always needing to be updated. You can be working away, and suddenly you’ll get a popup for a software or operating system (OS) update to install.

Unfortunately, many users ignore those requests or put them off until later. This can happen for a number of reasons:

  • They don’t want to stop what they’re doing
  • They’re worried about how long the update may take
  • They’re afraid an update will “mess something up”

When updates aren’t installed in a timely manner, it leaves a huge security risk for a business. Unpatched vulnerabilities in operating systems, software, and firmware are one of the main ways that a hacker can get into a system.

Just one example of how many people ignore the importance of updates: As of July 2020, there were still 20% of users running Windows 7 on their computers, an OS that reached end of support seven months earlier.

Let’s take a look at what updates do and why having managed IT services with patch/update installation is important for your Framingham area business.

Why Are Updates So Important?

Updates seem to come so frequently that a person might think, “Why not just wait for the next one?” But there’s a reason that updates are so important and why they need to be applied as soon as possible.

Updates will generally contain one or more of four main components:

  • Security patches
  • Feature updates
  • Bug fixes
  • Compatibility updates

Each of those components are important. Feature updates add value to a program you’re using, bug fixes can repair flaws in a software or OS, and compatibility updates ensure your computer remains current with other software/hardware.

But of the four, the most critical are security patches. Patches fix newly found code vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to breach a system.

For example, in October 2020 Microsoft released patch fixes for 87 different vulnerabilities, including 21 of them that allowed remote code execution in programs like Outlook and Excel.

If updates aren’t applied when sent out, that means the security patches inside those updates aren’t applied either and the system is left vulnerable.

What is Patch/Update Management?

Patch and update management is provided through managed IT services. This is a proactive managementplan for your business technology that keeps systems professionally maintained and stops problems before they can start.

Pro Tech Guy’s patch/update management service automates the update process, so a business owner never has to worry about potentially vulnerable systems that can impact their network.

What we do is manage all updates for your devices remotely. We do it in a way that won’t interfere with user productivity and then we test to ensure each update was applied successfully.

All of this is done automatically for you in the background, ensuring your systems remain secure.

What Are the Benefits of Manages Updates?

Better User Productivity

When updates and patches are managed, users don’t have to worry about being interrupted by an update or having an update they did go wrong.

User productivity benefits because new features are added as soon as they release, bug fixes are installed right away, and employees don’t have to stop their work to deal with an update.

Peace of Mind for Business Owners

Do you really want to be chasing after your employees to do their updates? Then wondering whether they have?

You gain peace of mind knowing that your computers are being updated/patched in a timely manner and that each update is being confirmed by a professional. This is one big cybersecurity worry off your plate.

Updates Are Installed Professionally

When there is a large operating system update to do, if you have employees handling it on their own, you’re likely to run into problems. Some updates need to be finessed to ensure they’re being installed correctly and that nothing is going to be “acting funny” once the update is complete.

When you use managed IT support, which includes managed updates, each update is being thoroughly tested once it’s gone through to ensure there are no problems that would negatively impact your employees.

You Gain Important Cybersecurity Assurance

Patch and update management is one of the cornerstones of cybersecurity best practices. When it’s done right, it can significantly decrease your risk of suffering a major data breach or an infection of ransomware, spyware, or other type of malware.

Your business security is too important to risk, and patch management is just as important as any other cybersecurity measure you take.

Customize Your Managed IT Plan from Pro Tech Guy

We offer professional update and patch management, along with multiple other value-added services, with our managed IT plans for Massachusetts businesses.

Contact us today to discuss a customized support plan for your company. Call 508-364-8189 or reach us online.

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