The Importance of Continuous Security Testing for Patch Management

Patch management is a critical IT process for securing systems, devices, and software. As new security vulnerabilities, errors, bugs, and loopholes are discovered, developers and vendors release patches and updates to address them.

Patches are rarely uniform – they range from OS system updates to application security bug fixes, network equipment upgrades, and everything in between. Applying all updates when prompted sounds ideal in principle, but it’s rarely ever enough as a standalone practice. For businesses with multi-layered security infrastructures with an abundance of integrated systems and tools working seamlessly together, rigorous testing is required to a) validate the updates, and b) ensure that deploying it has not disrupted workflows.

Therefore, simply deploying patches is insufficient to safeguard system security and data integrity, much less reduce alert fatigue for IT teams. If a system fails to function as intended following a patch update, it could unintentionally damage system security, thus exposing companies to cyber attacks or regulatory fines. Organizations must continuously test to validate patch effectiveness and ensure systems remain secure, with data preserved in line with industry regulations and legislation. 

This short guide explains the ideal steps to take for deploying an effective patch management strategy and why combining it with ongoing security testing is vital to maintaining system stability.

What is Patch Management?

Patch management in security refers to the identification, deployment, and verification of security updates. These updates ‘patch’ security flaws in code and update them so that applications, software, and systems can continue to work as intended while minimizing their attack surfaces. When software updates are available, IT teams can usually find them through a range of resources and develop the right process for their business accordingly.

This process typically involves:

• Scanning software to uncover new vulnerabilities
• Monitoring vendors to stay updated on new attack methods and flaws
• Prioritizing vulnerabilities and patches by severity and applicability
• Testing patches before deployment on non-production environments (such as test servers)
• Rolling out patches to applicable systems and software
• Validating patch installation and performance across devices and connected systems

Why Patch Management Matters

With cybercrime growing in frequency, intensity, and covertness with each passing year, security patching has become essential for limiting an organization’s risk exposure.

While many organizations may be deemed ‘bigger targets’ to malicious actors due to their size and level of data held on file, no company is ever truly immune. Cyber security has become a fundamental part of companies’ operations, regardless of whether they are an internationally-recognized conglomerate or a small startup business. 

Therefore, even if you’re not up to speed with current cyber security trends or the emerging threat landscape, it pays dividends to understand why patch management is vital.

Below are just some of the reasons why a robust patching strategy could prove invaluable as your business evolves and you navigate new digital challenges.

• Unpatched systems or unwiped data could be easily exploited by adversaries. This data, however extensive, is readily available for threat actors to compromise. Much like how buying or selling used devices from reputable eCommerce retailers involves users following strict data erasure procedures, the same applies to data stored in software or applications within a company. Ensuring its integrity remains vital.
  
• Notable security flaws like Log4Shell have enabled major breaches to move laterally through numerous unpatched devices. Patching is a vital strategy to prevent data breaches of this scale from materializing.
  
• Vulnerabilities may enable the easy installation of malware or ransomware to severely disrupt operations or grind them to a halt entirely, limiting availability and efficiency.

• Highly regulated industries mandate that organizations deploy updates in a timely manner to address security gaps and maintain compliance. Failing to do so results in hefty fines and, in many incidents, the complete erosion of customer or stakeholder trust.
  
• Post-incident, organizations that manage to navigate the complexities of a damaged reputation and lost income will also, invariably, have to fork out exponentially high fees for disaster recovery and restoration. Budget-constrained firms can ill afford to face this.

Therefore, the knock-on effects of ineffective patch management can be severe. Patching itself forms the very foundation of stable security hygiene and solid vulnerability management. Just one minor flaw can present businesses with unnecessary risks, highlighting why patching them effectively and methodically is, frankly, the bare minimum that organizations can do. 

Why Security Testing Matters Too

Despite its importance, patch management alone is insufficient for maintaining system stability and security. After each patch deployment, expecting all systems and applications to function flawlessly is unrealistic. Continuous testing of connected systems post-implementation is essential to verify successful patch application and ensure system reliability. Such testing also allows firms to uncover any unforeseen side effects or functionality issues caused by updates.

Combining patching with robust security testing offers numerous benefits. It confirms that updates adhere to vendor or developer recommendations and facilitates rollback from backups if necessary. Testing on separate servers mitigates risks related to incorrect installations and validates the elimination of patched flaws. It also identifies potential unintended side effects, allowing deployment processes to be refined and, in turn, minimizing disruption during busy periods. Given that a test environment’s risk exposure is far lower than a live environment, it serves as an important safety net, providing complete visibility and assurance.

With cyber incidents costing companies $4.45 million on average per IBM’s 2023 Cost of Data Breach Report, patch management presents a cost-effective loss prevention strategy. With negative media attention a huge shot in the arm for brand integrity, not to mention the steep legal, regulatory and PR costs associated with high-profile incidents, businesses can rarely afford to treat security patching as anything other than a priority.

Best Practices for Patch Management

To balance efficient and effective security defenses while upholding business continuity, organizations should implement continuous patch management per the following guidelines:

1. Inventory tracking – Scan to pinpoint hardware and software requiring cross-departmental or cross-geographical updates.
2. Risk-based prioritization – Focus resources on addressing critical flaws rapidly while keeping systems functioning, scheduling less urgent ones appropriately.
3. Change control – Streamline processes for testing and patch approval, involving relevant teams for minimal disruption.
4. Role-based access control – Limit privileges required for patching to ensure delegation of duties and the principle of least privilege.
5. Automated deployment – Utilize tools and software as necessary to roll out and verify approved patches across the organization.
6. Layered testing – Combine other processes like backups, scanning, monitoring, and analysis to validate patch success and uncover any further flaws.
7. Backup verification – Test backups and restoration to confirm recovery processes work as intended.
8. Lessons learned – Log failures, errors, and workarounds (temporary or permanent) related to patching to uncover process improvements.

Continuous Vigilance Is Key

Security patch management combined with continuous testing is vital for upholding compliance and security across an organization. Ultimately, both are fundamental pieces of the proverbial security puzzle, but they are much more effective as two equal parts of a combined security process. The most resilient and robust of cyber strategies involve continuous awareness, monitoring, and oversight, and it’s no different when deploying patches, which are often seen as a ‘one-and-done’ element when they’re anything but.

Taking a dynamic approach in line with the above guidance will allow organizations to fulfill their legal and regulatory duties while ensuring long-term security, and stakeholder and customer trust. From this, they can continue to innovate and scale with confidence that security is in the best hands possible.