Something as common and widely known as a software update can prevent major cyberattacks from happening, as they incorporate patches that fix system vulnerabilities. Prioritizing updates may seem a burdensome and inconvenient task for users, because computers and servers have to restart to perform installation, which interrupts users when they are working.

We have recently concluded the first quarter of 2023, and there have already been over 250 patches for the many components and flavours of Microsoft’s operating systems, as well as a handful of patches for Adobe, Apple, and Android. If you are a computer professional, you have also had to patch various other enterprise-class hardware and software assets in your environment. With all of the technology we have today, installing software updates has become a near-daily, full-time activity.

Businesses should patch their TP-Link routers as soon as possible, after the revelation that a legendary IoT botnet is targeting them for recruitment. The notorious Mirai botnet, which hijacks control of vulnerable IoT devices, is now exploiting TP-Link Archer AX21 routers to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

A patch management strategy that considers the risks, prioritizes critical patches and ensures timely deployment will reduce business disruptions, improve operational efficiency and create a competitive advantage

The industrial sector is one of the largest, most diverse and changing segments of the global economy. It is also one of the main targets for cybercriminals. Industrial sites and factories continue to transform and digitize, which means that more and more critical assets and infrastructure are being connected to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This has raised security concerns about operational technology (OT) in manufacturing, which is increasingly at risk.

Patch management is an essential prerequisite for continuous cyber risk mitigation. But it’s not getting any easier. That makes finding the right security partner an essential task for any IT operations leader. But this too is fraught with difficulty in a market saturated with vendors. This is where independent market analysis can be invaluable.