As a small to medium-sized business (SMB), it’s essential to prioritize patching in your cybersecurity strategy. Patches are software updates that fix security vulnerabilities. Without a robust patching process, your organization is at risk of falling victim to cyber attacks.
But why is patching so important? The answer lies in the ever-evolving threat landscape. Hackers are constantly seeking new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, and if you don’t keep up with patches, you’re leaving yourself open to attack.
So, How Do You Prioritize Patches in your Organization?
The key is to consider three critical factors when prioritizing patches:
- Criticality: How severe is the vulnerability? Is it a critical issue that could result in data loss or financial damage?
- Network Posture: What’s the actual network posture of the affected system? Is it exposed to the internet, or is it internal only?
- Exploitability: Has there been a known exploit discovered in the wild?
By considering these factors, you can create a tiered patching process that prioritizes the most critical patches first.
Patching Cadence
I recommend the following patching cadence, based on the priority you assign to each patch:
- Critical: Patch immediately
- High-Severity: Patch within a week
- All Other Security: Patch within a month
Measuring Success
To measure the success of your patching program, consider tracking the following KPIs:
- Patch Rate: How many patches are applied in a given timeframe?
- Mean Time to Patch: How quickly do you respond to critical patches?
- Vulnerability Reduction: Are there fewer vulnerabilities present on your network after patching?
Track your progress over time, and remember that while you may never achieve perfection, you are actively working to eliminate as many vulnerabilities as possible!
Automating Patching
To streamline your patching process, consider automation as much as possible. You can use a Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tool (we like NinjaOne), or a purpose-built patching tool (i.e., Ivanti) to automatically push your patches for you. RMM tools can help reduce the administrative burden and ensure that patches are applied consistently.
MSSP Validation
Finally, consider having a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) validate your IT department or MSP’s work by independently scanning for vulnerabilities whenever possible. Adding an MSSP to your cyber toolkit provides an additional layer of security and helps to identify any potential gaps in your patching process.
In our previous blog post, “The Silent Threat: Why Vulnerability Management is Crucial for SMB Security,” we explored the importance of vulnerability management in preventing cyber attacks. Patching is a critical component of this process, and by following these best practices, you can ensure that your organization stays protected from emerging threats.
Remember to always prioritize patching in your cybersecurity strategy, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about implementing a robust patching program in your SMB.
