Network Patch Management Process
First you must conduct a full network inventory.
Network patch management process. Patch management is not always a simple task as organizations may have a variety of platforms and configurations along with other challenges that make patching these components very difficult. Nicastro says companies need to have several pieces in place before a patch management process can be installed. Develop up to date inventory of production systems os types ip addresses physical location etc plan standardization of production systems to same version of os and application software. Such guides don t give the reader a starting point.
In reviewing the patch reports the it security team will identify unpatched machines that connect to the company network and either patch or define an exception. The it security team will generate and review patch management compliance reports on at least a monthly basis from the company vulnerability management tools. The importance of each stage of the patch process and the. Right from the detection.
Patch management is the process of managing a network of computers by regularly performing patch deployment to keep computers up to date. Effective patch management process. To summarize dod guidance best practices on security patching and patch frequency. Patch management process flow.
Here s an effective patch management process that you can implement for your own business. List out all security controls in place. With information security initiatives it helps when you have a documented process and policy by which to follow. There s a saying that goes if you re going to do it more than once automate it this applies to a patch management process as well.
Patch management is a complex process and i can t cover all the variables here but i can distill the process into six general steps. Now that you understand the importance of patch management it s time to create a plan for your company. Compare reported vulnerabilities against inventory and control list. Network inventory change management configuration management asset management.
Prerequisites for the patch management process many guides on patch management jump straight into the patching processes leaving you with very little understanding of how to incorporate the processes into your own environment. 10 step patch management process template. Patch management related security terminology. Patching can be a big challenge when you have hundreds maybe even thousands of it assets to manage.