The use of software patch management easily automates the distribution of problem fixing patches across an entire network. Depending on the software, these updates can be scheduled beforehand or setup to coincide with your development team or third party patch providers. Many programs also offer the ability to scan the computers on the network for any vulnerabilities that require a patch.
Trying to perform a patch on every terminal in your company manually is a lengthy, time consuming process. It is also completely unnecessary and problematic. Instead of having an IT staffer waste another employees time by taking up the computer, the IT tech can automate the process with a program. It also saves money on payroll by ensuring work continues by everyone. If you have to have someone download patches on an employees computer, that person will have to stop what they are doing. This could potentially be devastating for any department from sales to accounting to customer service. Nobody wants to lose clients because of a minor detail that could have easily have been prevented. There are many different software to choose from. Selection will depend upon your business needs and company size. Choosing the one that has the most features is not necessarily the best move. However, selecting the program that allows for the most customizing to suit your needs would be beneficial.
Managing patches is one of the many ways to protect your systems from malicious intruders. Hackers are able to get past firewalls and security if one terminal on the network is compromised. This can be an easy fix as long as the patches are maintained. Companies have been disabled or completely shutdown for days because of hackers manipulating security loopholes created by not patched computers. The hackers are able to gain full control of one computer that is not entirely protected and then use it to tie up bandwidth for their own purposes. They are then also able to install viruses and worms on your network.
This type of malicious attack can be prevented by using a continuous checker. This feature would make sure that all computers on the network comply with the current patches available. If they do not then they are updated and a report is electronically generated to the system administrator. The best part about software patch management is that it is done almost completely without your knowledge, and without interfering with an employees workload. Just like with many updates, in order for it to take effect occasionally the computer may have to be turned off and then on again. Of course, the system would never automatically turn itself off without some sort of warning. That would partially defeat the purpose of the software.
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