Patching - the security routine that protects against catastrophic digital attacks
Ping. You are notified that your browser needs to be updated. The update states that you will receive new user functions, optimized usage and critical new security updates. Of course, you update in the same second. Right?
If you're one of those people who always puts off security updates, we know what your New Year's resolution for 2024 should be: Introduce patching as a security routine in your business.
Learn how patching is one of the simplest tricks to protect all your employees - with just a few simple keystrokes.
What is patching?
The term patching means closing security holes in your software. It's done by updating software with the latest security patch released by the software manufacturer.
You receive regular updates to your browser (Chrome, Safari, Opera, Firefox), operating systems (iOS, Androic, MacOs, Windows), software, IT systems and game consoles. These are released to improve performance, provide new features and remove bugs, but also patch security holes. Such gaps can be used by digital criminals to get into the systems of both individuals and businesses.
Put more simply: With patching, you and your employees protect yourselves every single day.
Patch management is one of the most critical aspects of your secure and productive day at work. Missing or forgetting to update could leave the door open for a sneaky hacker.
Why do I need to patch?
It's easy to take for granted that the big tech giants handle security for us. In reality, things look different: If you don't update and implement security routines, you leave the door open for hackers and digital criminals. If the security holes aren't plugged, the attacks don't have to be particularly sophisticated either.
Patching is so important that Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle and others have been doing Patch Tuesday for 20 years: On the second Tuesday of the month, a security update is released so you can patch all the vulnerabilities in your software.
By the time you're notified of a new patch, the criminals have most likely known about the vulnerability for quite some time. In the past, we've seen server vulnerabilities in large companies like Microsoft being patched several months after the vulnerability was first exploited by hackers. This has given the hackers unfettered access to do as they please, without us being aware that the vulnerability existed at all. In that time, a lot of damage can be done.
This head start means that you need to patch and update your systems immediately when you get the alert. In the first hours and days after the update is released, criminals try to exploit the security hole one last time before it is sealed and closed again.
This is what our technical manager Aleksander Pedersen says about patching:
"By the time the patch arrives, criminals have already known about it and used it for a long time. If you delay updating your phone, PC or operating system for just 2-3 days, you make yourself extremely vulnerable to attack. The longer you wait with updates, the easier you are to target."
But patching with security updates isn't necessarily something that's easy for all businesses. Complex, large enterprises that have embraced the wave of digitalization and have extensive use of technology have large amounts of patching that need to be done very frequently. How are you supposed to keep track of what updates are coming? The answer to this challenge is a patch management plan.
What is patch management?
Most businesses use many devices and applications every day. The larger and more complex your business, the greater the chance of an update being forgotten or ignored. Some updates take a long time and are performed on applications you need throughout the day. To make sure that all updates are completed without affecting your productivity at work, you need a patch management plan.
9 steps you need in your patch management plan
1) Get an overview of your IT systems
Count your systems and create an overview of all the software and devices you have in your company. This overview is critical in your patch management process. Once you have an overview, you will be able to quickly compare known vulnerabilities. Then you know which patches are important to update quickly.
2) Assign a risk level to your IT systems
By assigning different systems to different risk levels, you can prioritize correctly. Don't waste time patching the wrong systems.
For example, a PC used by your sales team should be prioritized over a physical server that cannot be accessed through the internet.
The more prone to attack the device or system is, the faster the patch needs to be applied.
3) Stick to one version of the software
If you use multiple versions of a software, the risk of attack is higher. Choose one version of Windows, Linux or macOS and keep that version updated with patches. When there is only one version in use, you also save time on patching.
4) Stay on top of vendor patch announcements
Once you have an overview of all your IT systems, sign up for any security updates your vendors apply. This could be newsletters, social media or other channels used specifically for patch updates. Create a process to ensure that none of these are missed so you can add them to your own patch management plan.
5) Minimize exceptions from patching
Sometimes a patch cannot be applied immediately.
For example, a Java patch may break an existing business application and changes must be made to it first.
In these situations, you should minimize the risk by closing user access to the server. Do not allow an unpatched server to be visible on the internet.
6) Restart the devices after update
Most devices benefit from being rebooted regularly. When patching, it's especially critical to reboot so that the changes work.
7) Test the patch on one device before applying it to all
Every business is unique. A patch can cause an issue or significantly slow down performance on machines with specific configurations. Take a small part of your system and apply the patch there to make sure there are no significant issues.
8) Automate open source patching
The number of open source vulnerabilities is increasing rapidly as more open source tools are created and used. If you use open source, you need to patch the open source libraries you use when you discover them. The challenge is to keep track of all the open source libraries and tools that your developers are using.
Patch the security wall around your business and your employees
New attacks are launched every single day. You don't have time to keep track of them all.
Instead of focusing on the latest zero-day vulnerabilities, work on implementing patch management.
Patching is your weapon in the race between you and digital criminals. If you patch efficiently and systematically, you'll win the race against hackers and keep your employees and customers safe.
The race continues. Will you pass on the baton?
