Keeping Your Systems and Applications Safe

The number of ransomware attacks is increasing rapidly every day. Patch management is a crucial aspect of any cybersecurity strategy. It aims to identify, assess and correct vulnerabilities discovered in IT systems and applications.

For organisations with a large number of workstations, servers and network devices, ensuring that all devices are up to date can be both time-consuming and difficult. Trying to manage these patches manually is not only a huge headache but also a major risk, leaving the organisation with multiple vulnerabilities.

Cybercriminals actively exploit known vulnerabilities to infiltrate systems and compromise data security. By quickly applying the appropriate patches, organisations can reduce the attack surface and prevent security incidents.

Unpatched vulnerabilities are often exploited by cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information, such as personal data, financial information or trade secrets.

Many data protection regulations require organisations to take steps to maintain the security of their systems and applications, including the application of security patches.

Security patches resolve performance or stability problems in systems and applications, improving the reliability of IT infrastructures and reducing service interruptions due to known vulnerabilities.

Use of vulnerability management tools

Identifying vulnerabilities in systems and applications can be done effectively using vulnerability management tools. These tools are designed to scan IT infrastructures for known and potential security vulnerabilities. Here’s how these tools are used in the vulnerability identification process:

Automated scanning: Vulnerability management tools perform automated scans of networks, systems and applications to identify known vulnerabilities. They use regularly updated vulnerability databases to detect the most recent security flaws.
Criticality assessment: The results of vulnerability scans are often accompanied by an assessment of the criticality of each vulnerability detected. This enables organisations to prioritise patches according to their potential impact on the security and availability of systems.
Reporting and monitoring: Vulnerability management tools provide detailed reports on detected vulnerabilities, including information on their location, severity and recommended patches. These reports help security teams monitor the status of vulnerabilities and plan any necessary corrective actions.
Integration with other tools: Vulnerability management tools can often be integrated with other security solutions, such as patch management systems and incident management systems, to help coordinate security activities and optimise risk management processes.