Everyone knows that patch management is an important process for businesses, but we can all agree that it can quickly become very tedious. That is why more and more business owners are turning to automated patch management. Aside from making your life easier, there are also a number of other benefits that come with making this choice.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of automating your patch management process.
Security
One of the biggest reasons why automated patch updates are a good idea is that it can help to improve the overall security of your computer network. The majority of patches that are released are fixes for security vulnerabilities that have been identified. If these vulnerabilities are left unpatched it leaves your business at risk of malicious attacks and malware that is designed to damage your network or steal information. When patches are installed in a timely manner your system has a much lower chance of any form of security breach. Automating your patch management process makes it much easier to stay current with these security fixes.
Company Wide Productivity
When your computer system is working efficiently your employees will encounter fewer bugs and glitches. This in turn will allow your staff to work more efficiently. Some patches are released in order to address problems within the software or to make it more compatible with the latest operating systems. It is also the case that if you are using automated patch management software you are going to be able to deploy updates after business closes for the day. This minimizes the amount of disruption experienced by your staff which again improves their productivity while also making sure your network is updated appropriately.
IT Department Productivity
It is also worth noting the more localized productivity boosts that can be seen in the IT department of your company when you automate patch management. When you are patching your computers manually it can take a large number of man hours. Depending on the size of your networks it could easily become a full-time job for a member of the IT department. However, when you are automating the process the time that it takes is drastically reduced which will free up IT technicians for other tasks that need to be addresses allowing the department to work much more efficiently.
Industry Compliance
Compliancy with industry regulations is something that has become a very important focus for many businesses recently. Patch management is a huge part of keeping in compliance with many industry regulations as it plays a role in security best practices. Government institutions, healthcare organizations and financial service companies are those most commonly affected by such regulations. However, any company who handles the personal information of their customers should be aware of some of the important IT standards that they should be working within. Failure to do so can result in legal and financial penalties for your business.
Keep Up To Date With The Latest Features
Security and compliance are among the most important reasons for patch management, but they are not the only ones. Some patches contain new features that will add extra functionality to your software or perhaps offer support for a new platform. When you stay on top of patch management you are also making sure that your business is getting the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest features and services.
These are just 5 of the many reasons why automated patch management could be a great choice for you and your business.