Automate Security Patch Management to Reduce Vulnerabilities

Summary

The ability to find and patch vulnerabilities is a cornerstone of good cybersecurity. It’s also an often monotonous and error-prone process, making it an ideal candidate for automation. Many security providers now offer automated patch management tools, and businesses would be remiss to pass up on this opportunity.
 

Benefits of automated patch management

The advantages of automated patch management become increasingly hard to ignore as cybercrime grows. Here are a few of the ways companies can benefit from this automation.

1. Faster fixes
Automation’s speed is one of its biggest strengths in security. The longer a vulnerability goes unpatched, the more opportunities cybercriminals have to take advantage of it, so quick fixes are essential. However, the global cybersecurity industry is short 3.4 million workers, so many teams don’t have the staff to keep up with updates manually.
 
Automated patch management provides the continuous monitoring and adjustment security professionals need but can’t deliver on their own. AI can recognize vulnerabilities as soon as they emerge, enabling the fastest possible responses. In many cases, they can also patch the gap autonomously, resolving the issue in as little time as possible by removing any need for human input.

2. Fewer errors
Automated systems are also less likely to make mistakes when identifying and patching vulnerabilities. Because patch management is monotonous and detail-oriented, humans will likely make mistakes when handling it manually. AI, by contrast, is strongest in this kind of work, so it can perform it with higher accuracy and reliability.
 
AI-powered patch management solutions compare real-time conditions to hard data on update availability, company security protocols and past incidents. They deliver consistent accuracy by referring to these resources in each instance. As cybercrime grows—ransomware alone rose by 518% in the first half of 2021—this reliability will become all the more important. When mistakes are a matter of millions in losses, accuracy matters.

3. Higher IT productivity
Automated patch management is also good for productivity, and not only because it makes vulnerability detection more efficient. Automating routine tasks leaves cybersecurity professionals with more time and lessened workloads. In turn, these employees can accomplish more in their workday than previously possible.
 
Automatic patching also prevents repeated disruptions to security staff’s workflows. Automated alerts about unpatched vulnerabilities can be distracting, especially if they’re frequent. The frustration from these repeated alerts, in turn, leads to cybersecurity fatigue, making businesses more vulnerable than before. Patch management systems prevent that by fixing the issue instead of warning humans to do so, ensuring teams remain safe without distraction.
 

Best practices for automated patch management

Like all tools, automated patch management requires careful implementation to reach its full potential. That starts with recognizing where to deploy it. Despite these benefits, automatic patching isn’t ideal in every scenario, so businesses must identify where to use it and where to rely on manual alternatives.
 
Systems with reversible updates or those where software providers carefully test and authenticate updates are ideal for automation. However, manual patch management is better when an update could render mission-critical applications offline temporarily or when a closer look is required. For example, many vehicles have vulnerable over-the-air update systems, so autonomous systems may not be best for them.
 
Businesses must also configure their patch management solutions according to their specific needs. To do that, they must determine which systems are most critical to keep secure. Similarly, they must develop a strategy for identifying which patches or systems to prioritize when a new vulnerability emerges. Teams should regularly review these processes and measure relevant KPIs to ensure they work as intended.
 
It’s also important to recognize that no system is perfect. Automation won’t be able to patch every vulnerability before someone targets it, so an emergency response plan is necessary. Businesses must look for software solutions with threat identification and containment features. After enabling these tools, teams must develop a plan to address potential attacks when they arise.

Modern security needs automation

Today’s security threats are too common and costly to rely on manual processes. Cybersecurity professionals need automation, especially in repetitive, error-prone workflows like patch management.
 
Automated patch management tools aren’t just convenient—they can be essential security solutions. While they’re not a complete defense, they provide crucial benefits for security teams to reach their full potential. Businesses can then prevent many threats and address those that come through before they cause much damage.