Patch management vs. vulnerability management: key differences you need to know

In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses, especially within IT departments. Safeguarding your IT environment is crucial, and that’s where patch management and vulnerability management come into play. While these two processes are often bundled together, they serve distinct purposes and should not be confused as interchangeable. This article will delve into the key differences and similarities between patch management and vulnerability management, helping you understand when to use each and why both are essential for maintaining a secure IT infrastructure.

What is patch management?

Patch management is a process that’s used to update software, operating systems, and applications in a logical way. When you purchase a patch management product, it should enable you to highlight, classify, and prioritize any patches that a given asset is missing.

Let’s back up a second: What exactly are patches? Well, they’re code changes that come from a program’s vendor and can contain anything from security fixes to new features and updates. Patch management should keep your programs running smoothly, but it’s not necessarily a catch-all. That’s why it’s important to combine patch management with vulnerability management.

What is vulnerability management?

While not all patches are related to security issues, vulnerability management is an area that’s entirely focused on security. This process is used to discover assets on a network, categorize the operating systems and applications on those assets, and then report vulnerabilities related to security.

A high-quality vulnerability management product will report both security vulnerabilities and suggest some remediation advice. This remediation process will usually involve patching the vulnerable system, but it may also involve implementing configuration changes. If there are multiple known vulnerabilities, you should get a report back that lists them in order of priority.

Once you address those vulnerabilities – your patches have been implemented and the changes have been made – you can repeat the vulnerability scan to ensure that the issues have been taken care of.

Patch management vs. vulnerability management key similarities

Patch management and vulnerability management do overlap in a number of areas, and their goals are deeply intertwined. Successful execution of both processes will require your IT department to have a comprehensive inventory of the hardware and software assets under its purview – as well as their configuration details.

Both patch and vulnerability management are also time-sensitive matters. In fact, more than 90% of exploitations occur after the patch for a vulnerability has been released. Think about it: Patch releases let the public know that a vulnerability exists, so you need to cover your bases quickly before you get taken advantage of.

That’s why IT automation has really taken off. With an automated patching system like Atera’s, you won’t have to worry so much about cyberattacks. The moment a vendor announces a vulnerability, hackers become aware of it too – and they’re ready to act. That means you need to act first, which is achieved much more easily with automation.

While patch management and vulnerability management are two strategies that can be used together in a tandem manner, IT professionals sometimes need to decide which is best for solving a problem. In the long term, true success and safety boil down to a strategy comprised of both patch and vulnerability management.

Both patch management and vulnerability management are crucial components of maintaining cybersecurity within IT departments. While patch management ensures that software, operating systems, and applications are updated and secure, patch management policy dictates the strategies and procedures for implementing these updates effectively.

Patch management vs. vulnerability management key differences

Although they support common workflows and goals (such as risk assessment, prioritization, and mitigation of security vulnerabilities), patch management and vulnerability management tools are typically operated independently and are deployed and managed by different people within an IT department.

The key difference between the two systems is that a patch management system will generally not be able to tell you if there is an existing vulnerability in a piece of software – it’s not made to conduct scans, just to execute the patches and code rewrites that vendors put out. Vulnerability management systems, on the other hand, actively look for security risks.

That said, most vulnerability management systems cannot actually fix the problems they spot, although they may offer advice on how to go about doing so. That’s why vulnerability management and patch management need each other: One is the problem finder while the other is the problem fixer.

Best practices for Patch and Vulnerability Management

To maximize the effectiveness of your cybersecurity strategy, it’s essential to integrate both patch management and vulnerability management into your IT operations. Here are some best practices to consider:

1. Daily Scanning: Automate your vulnerability scans to ensure real-time visibility into your organization’s security posture. Regular scans help identify new vulnerabilities as they emerge, allowing you to respond swiftly.
2. Prioritize Vulnerabilities: When vulnerabilities are identified, prioritize them based on their risk level. Address the most critical vulnerabilities first to prevent exploitation by malware, ransomware, or other threats.
3. Patch High-Risk Vulnerabilities Quickly: Aim to patch high-risk vulnerabilities within 48 hours of discovery, especially those affecting your network perimeter. This minimizes the window of opportunity for attackers.
4. Automate Patch Management: Automating the patching process for applications that frequently introduce vulnerabilities can save time and reduce the risk of human error. This allows your team to focus on more strategic initiatives.
5. Foster Collaboration Between Teams: Ensure that the teams responsible for patch management and vulnerability management work closely together. This collaboration is crucial for end-to-end resolution and maintaining a secure IT environment.

The Role of Atera in Streamlining Patch and Vulnerability Management

Atera offers a powerful platform that simplifies the integration of patch and vulnerability management into your IT operations. With Atera, you can automate both processes, ensuring that your systems are always up-to-date and secure.

Atera’s patch management features allow IT departments to deploy patches automatically, based on predefined schedules or in response to newly identified vulnerabilities. This automation reduces the risk of cyberattacks by ensuring that patches are applied promptly.

In addition to patch management, Atera’s vulnerability management tools provide comprehensive scanning and reporting capabilities. These tools identify potential security risks and offer actionable insights, enabling IT teams to prioritize and address vulnerabilities effectively. By integrating these tools into a single platform, Atera streamlines the entire process, reducing the complexity and effort required to maintain a secure IT environment.

Atera’s platform also supports robust reporting and analytics, giving IT departments real-time visibility into their patch and vulnerability management activities. This data-driven approach helps teams make informed decisions and continuously improve their cybersecurity posture. Try our platform for free for 30 days and see how Atera can enhance your IT management and security efforts.