5 Open Source Patch Management Tools, Their Pros & Hidden Costs

Did you know it takes companies an average of 88 days to patch critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities? That’s nearly three months! It’s no wonder the global patch management market, valued at $720.69 million in 2022, is projected to grow at a rate of 10.20% annually between 2024 and 2032.

Yet, some businesses are choosing open source patch management tools over commercial software. While these tools are often touted as “free,” they come with hidden costs that can be significant.

Is There Free Open Source Patch Management Software?

The short answer is yes. There are indeed free Windows, MacOs and Linux patch management tools open source orchestrations. But let’s break this down.

What is Patch Management Software?

Patch management software helps companies:

• Identify and prioritize software vulnerabilities
• Update software to improve functionality efficiency
• Fix security vulnerabilities

What is Open Source Patch Management?

Open source software, for patch management or otherwise, is a software that provides users the license to study, use, change and distribute its code.

Some open source software tools are developed by a single person or company, while others get developed as a collaboration among community members.

Is Open Source Patch Management Always Free?

Sometimes it is, but not always. Later in this article, we’ll cover some of the best open source patch management tools you can find in 2024. You’ll see that some are absolutely free, some use a freemium model, and others don’t have a free option at all.

What are the Costs of Free Open Source Patch Management?

While the main benefit is clear – free is great if you’ve got a tight budget – we recommend considering the hidden costs as well.

No True Commitment

We appreciate that the developers behind free software genuinely want to help and see you succeed. They put a lot of effort into their projects and often care deeply about their users.

However, because these are free projects, the level of support and updates can be inconsistent. You might find that the updates aren’t as frequent or the support isn’t as robust as you’d hope.

If the free software is offered by a commercial company, there’s a chance it could be discontinued if it no longer fits their business model.

Also, if you’re not paying for the product, you should remember that your data might be used in other ways. Sometimes, free tools are designed to attract users and eventually lead them to a paid version when they’re ready to upgrade.

Security and Compliance Might Not Be Reliable

When it comes to patching software vulnerabilities, security is a top priority for your company, your partners, and your customers. Compliance with laws and regulations is just as crucial.

While the team behind free open source patch management tools often cares deeply about their product and understands the importance of addressing vulnerabilities, they may not always have the resources to maintain consistent updates and support.

It’s important to carefully evaluate these tools before entrusting them with your business data. Make sure they meet your security and compliance needs reliably.

5 Best Open Source Patch Management Tools (2024)

Almost 7 in 10 companies have increased their use of open source software in 2023, according to OpenLogic.

But each company’s needs are different. Check out these open source patch management software products – some of the best the industry has to offer – and see if one of them can work for you.

ITarian

ITarian’s open source patch management software makes it easy to spot vulnerabilities on your endpoints with real-time monitoring and detailed risk assessments. It handles remote and automatic patching for you.

You’ll get regular updates, live reports, and smart predictions to stay ahead of potential issues.

• Is it free? No. There’s a free 30 day trial for the entire RMM, MDM and endpoint security platform.
• How often is it updated? According to ITarian’s release notes, the entire platform was updated three times in 2023. It hasn’t been updated since, as of July 2024.

OPSI (Open PC Server Integration)

OPSI is one of the platforms that emphasizes on its website that it offers Linux patch management tools open source style. It combines it with operating system installation, product deployment, software inventory and hardware inventory, among others.

OPSI’s Windows, MacOS and Linux patch management open source system always stays up to date, and compliant with company policies, thanks to automation.

• Is it free? The core features are available for anyone for free. If you need more than that, you can get many of the other features for free up to 30 devices, too.
• How often is it updated? There have been 14 release notes so far in 2024, as of July.

Puppet’s open source patch management tools include automation and configuration capabilities. These capabilities help you patch vulnerabilities quickly and continuously across hundreds of thousands of servers.

Puppet is agent-based and OS-agnostic, so you can simultaneously enjoy both Windows and Linux patch management open source operations.

• Is it free? The open source patch management version is free. The full enterprise version requires getting a quote from sales.
• How often is it updated? The free open source patch management software has been updated six times in 2024, according to the company’s release notes, as of July 2024.

Ansible

Ansible is a command-line IT automation engine written in Python. It offers a Linux patch management open source system that focuses on reliability, security and ease of use.

But it goes beyond Linux patch management tools open source style. First, it offers system configuration, software deployment and workflow orchestration, among others.

Second, Ansible was acquired by Red Hat. Their combined end to end platform offers mission-critical automation for cross-functional teams.

• Is it free? The open source patch management software version is free indeed.
• How often is it updated? Ansible doesn’t date all of its release notes, making it challenging to understand update frequency.

Comodo

Comodo rounds up our list of best open source patch management tools, serving Windows, Linux and third party applications. The company’s endpoint protection and response platform is built on zero-trust architecture.

Among others, Comodo automatically identifies available updates and deploys the relevant patches, then provides reports about its work.

• Is it free? No, and there’s no current price transparency. Please contact sales to find out more.
• How often is it updated? Comodo makes it challenging to find its changelog or release notes. Please contact the company for more information if you’re considering getting this tool.

Is a Free Open Source Patch Management Software Really the Best Choice for You?

This list of the best open source patch management tools makes one thing very clear: There is no right or wrong answer, or one that’s universal for everyone. You’ve got to look at the pros and cons in your specific situation. For example:

Pros & Cons of Open Source Patch Management

Pros:

• Budget: Often free, which is great for tight budgets.
• Code Customization: Allows you to tailor the software to your needs.
• Security: You can review the code yourself for added security.
• Updates: You can update the code if necessary.

Cons:

• No True Commitment: Support and updates might be inconsistent.
• Security Risks: Ongoing security and compliance might not be guaranteed.
• Updates: Keeping up with technology and bugs can be challenging.
• Support: Community support might not be as reliable as professional support.

What Would 10x Efficiency Be Worth to Your Company?

Sometimes, time is money. Your ability to scale is money. Your ability to stay safe.

At Atera, we might never be able to compete with free open source patch management on price, but we can definitely deliver business results that are worth a lot more than the cost of subscription.

Our patch management tool is part of a bigger, AI-powered IT management platform, an all-in-one solution to manage, patch and secure your endpoints.

• 5 minute onboarding
• Monitor unlimited devices for a fixed, per-technician price
• Risk-free, 30 day free trial

If you’re ready to turbocharge your IT efficiency, start here.