Top 9 Patch Management Challenges (Solved ✓)

Learn about PurpleSec’s fully managed vulnerability management services.

Author: Jason Firch, MBA / Last Updated: 03/26/2023

Reviewed By: Josh Allen & Michael Swanagan, CISSP, CISA, CISM

View Our: Editorial Process

The top challenges in patch management include managing patches for multiple systems and applications, maintaining visibility and control over assets, and prioritizing critical patches. To solve these challenges, organizations should implement an automated patch management solution that supports multi-platform coverage, provides comprehensive visibility and control over assets, and identifies and prioritizes critical patches.

Challenges In Patch Management

Developing a successful patch management plan is no easy feat.

It can take time and resources to accurately identify which systems are impacted, deploy patches promptly, and ensure the security of an organization’s infrastructure.

1. Lack Of Affordable Solutions

One of the challenges organizations face when implementing patch management strategies is the lack of affordable solutions.

Many companies, particularly SMBs, operate on tight budgets and are reluctant to invest in costly patch management tools or services – even if they know it’s a good idea.

Let’s face it, manual patching sucks.

The job can, at times, be uninspiring and tedious. It also requires a significant amount of money and management overhead to hire teams to run the program.

This model is what has typically driven up the cost, as organizations needed to allocate considerable financial and human resources to maintain an effective patch management strategy.

As a result, patches get delayed, skipped, or applied inconsistently, increasing the risk of successful exploitation by threat actors.

Example

Let’s use a software development company with 40 FTEs, 10 part-time contractors, and an all-remote environment as an example.

If they choose not to invest in a patch management solution due to costs, their systems will eventually become vulnerable to known vulnerabilities that threat actors could exploit.

This could result in a breach, compromising their intellectual property, client data, reputation, and in 60% of cases their business.

The Solution

At PurpleSec we developed a cost-effective solution specifically designed for SMBs who want to maximize the value of their security investment.

Our low-cost, $20 per month per endpoint solution continuously monitors and automatically patches your systems.

This automated vulnerability patching service is scalable and tailored to fit the specific requirements of each organization, ensuring that they can maintain a robust patch management strategy without breaking the bank.

2. Shortages Of Security And IT Staff

The challenge of having a severe shortage of security and IT staff is an increasingly common problem.

A few reasons why this shortage exists include academic curricula not matching what employers need, and high demand for these professionals coupled with limited training and development opportunities.

All of this leads to organizations competing to hire the best candidates they can find, making it difficult for organizations to find qualified personnel to manage their systems securely.

Example

One example of this issue is when an urgent security vulnerability appears in a widely-used software component, such as the 2014 OpenSSL Heartbleed bug.

Without experienced professionals available, organizations can struggle to identify affected systems and patch them quickly – something which can take up to seven months on average.

Budget constraints are often another culprit behind staff shortages, meaning many companies – particularly SMBs – don’t have the financial resources to hire enough IT and security professionals.

The Solution

Organizations can use automation to help address these challenges by streamlining patch management processes while reducing workloads on existing IT and security staff.

PurpleSec offers automated vulnerability patching services that provide reliable and cost-effective scalability to meet growing organizational needs.

Organizations can rest easy knowing that these services provide security and protection from potential cyber attacks or data breaches. Even if one did happen, it could potentially help reduce financial losses and reputation damage.

3. Complexity & Time Consuming

Patching can be complex and time-consuming.

It involves identifying, assessing, and testing patches before they are deployed, as well as having to keep up with a constant flow of newly published vulnerabilities.

This is especially true for large organizations that have many interconnected systems and devices which need to be updated.

The main challenge here lies in allocating sufficient resources and time to patch management due to competing priorities and limited staff.

As a result, deployment of security updates may become delayed, leaving the organization vulnerable to attackers exploiting known flaws or weaknesses.

The Solution

Organizations can use automated patch management solutions that detect, prioritize, and deploy patches faster than manual processes.

PurpleSec offers cloud-native automated vulnerability patching which simplifies the process on behalf of IT and security teams while also reducing the risk of delays in patching tasks.

4. Multiple Systems & Applications

Organizations face a challenge when it comes to patch management, as they often use multiple operating systems and third-party applications.

This makes it hard for IT and security teams to identify systems that need patching, as well as deploy patches swiftly without risking the security of their infrastructure.

Business units within the organization may be concerned about the potential of patches breaking existing systems.

This is why rigorous testing in a controlled environment before deployment is an essential best practice.

Example

One example that highlights this challenge is a large financial institution with multiple branches.

Organizations may have to manage a range of applications and operating systems spanning from outdated legacy systems to the newest software packages.

Coordinating patch management for this complex environment can be daunting and time-consuming, increasing the risk of vulnerabilities remaining unpatched.

The typical reason behind this challenge is the need for IT and security teams to have a thorough understanding of each system and application to ensure that patches are compatible and do not introduce new issues.

This often involves testing patches on different platforms, coordinating with vendors for support, and monitoring the impact of patches on the overall system stability and performance.

Solution

Utilize a patch management solution that supports multi-platform coverage and allows for centralized patch testing and deployment.

PurpleSec’s solution manages Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, along with hundreds of third-party applications from a single console, ensuring comprehensive patch management across all systems.

5. Hybrid Or Remote Employees

Managing devices used by hybrid or remote employees can be difficult, particularly when they aren’t always connected to the organization’s domain.

A few reasons why this challenge exists include:

• Lack of connectivity
• Limited IT oversight for remote devices
• Different operating systems used by employees
• Improper security policies
• Difficulty making sure non-company owned devices are compliant

Example

The 2017 data breach suffered by Deloitte serves as a reminder of what can happen when this challenge isn’t appropriately addressed.

Threat actors were able to gain access to sensitive client information, such as email addresses and login credentials, due to the company’s lack of management and security of devices owned by remote staff.

This breach underscores the importance of having a reliable patching strategy in place for remote devices.

Had patches been installed regularly and uniformly across all endpoints, even those off-network, the vulnerability exploited by attackers could have been remedied, averting the breach from happening.

The Solution

To reduce risks related to hybrid or remote employees, organizations should implement a patching solution that can be used with off-site devices regardless of their connection status.

Through PurpleSec’s automated vulnerability patching service, businesses can ensure patches are applied across all endpoints including those outside their network, keeping their assets secure and up-to-date at all times.

6. Lack Of Visibility & Control Over Assets

Without proper asset management, organizations may find it impossible to be aware of the software and hardware they have which may lead to difficulty in patching and keeping their systems secure.

A lack of network monitoring tools can hinder the detection of rogue or unmanaged devices, while decentralized IT management can cause disruptions in patch deployment efforts.

In addition, constantly changing IT environments necessitate ongoing monitoring from IT and security teams to keep up with new assets that require patching and security updates.

All these factors can significantly increase a company’s risk of vulnerabilities and potential breaches.

Example

A specific example of how this challenge can impact an organization is the 2014 breach of Home Depot, which affected over 50 million customers.

Unauthorized access to customer payment card information and email addresses was made possible through a breach of the company’s point-of-sale system.

It appears that this was enabled by inadequate oversight over its network assets, highlighting an urgent need for improved security measures.

Home Depot reportedly had a patch management process in place, but it was not effectively monitoring and managing all devices and systems on the network.

By failing to patch a known vulnerability, hackers were able to gain access and consequently cause an extensive data breach.

This incident highlights the importance of having a comprehensive understanding of network assets and ensuring consistent patch application across all devices and systems.

Inadequate visibility and control over assets can result from outdated inventory management practices, lack of centralized management tools, or insufficient staff resources to track and maintain assets.

The Solution

Organizations need to have a comprehensive understanding of their network assets and ensure that patches are consistently applied to all devices and systems.

Utilizing a patch management solution that offers a single, lightweight agent for comprehensive endpoint management can help address this challenge.

PurpleSec’s solution provides complete visibility and control over assets with minimal overhead and virtually no impact on the end user, allowing organizations to proactively manage their patching processes and safeguard their networks from vulnerabilities.

7. Difficulty Identifying & Prioritizing Patches

Identifying and prioritizing critical patches can be challenging for organizations, especially when dealing with multiple systems and applications.

This challenge arises due to several factors:

• Sheer volume of updates: The overwhelming number of patches released regularly makes it difficult for organizations to keep up, leading to potential delays or overlooked vulnerabilities.
• Inadequate vulnerability assessment processes: Inefficient processes can result in a lack of visibility into existing security gaps, making it difficult to identify and prioritize crucial patches.
• Insufficient resources and expertise: Organizations may lack skilled IT staff, proper training, or expertise to determine the criticality of patches and prioritize them effectively.

Example

One example of how this challenge can impact an organization is the 2016 breach of the FriendFinder Networks (FFN), which operates adult dating websites.

A significant security flaw in a live server went unchecked, leading to an enormous data leak that impacted 412 million users worldwide.

A major security lapse left users vulnerable to having their personal data exposed, including email addresses and passwords.

In some instances, even IP addresses and browser information were made available.

The vulnerability exploited by the attackers had been public knowledge for months before the breach occurred, but the organization failed to prioritize and apply the necessary patches to secure their systems.

This oversight not only led to significant reputational damage for FFN but also potentially put their users at risk of further cyber attacks, identity theft, or even blackmail.

The typical reason why organizations face challenges in identifying and prioritizing patches may stem from inadequate vulnerability assessment processes, insufficient resources, or a lack of clarity in organizational patching policies.

Without a clear process in place, organizations can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patches, leading to delays or overlooked vulnerabilities.

The Solution

In situations like this, having a robust patch management system in place that can identify and prioritize critical patches is essential to help organizations minimize their attack surface and protect their valuable assets.

By automating the process, organizations can ensure they are better prepared to address vulnerabilities promptly, reducing the likelihood of breaches and maintaining a higher level of security.

PurpleSec’s cloud-native solution streamlines this process, allowing organizations to focus on addressing the most pressing vulnerabilities.

8. Managing Patches For Third-Party Applications

Organizations often need to be mindful of third-party vendors’ patch release schedules as it can be difficult to plan and coordinate patching efforts due to varying patch delivery methods and formats.

This is further complicated by the diverse software ecosystems that organizations may have, leading to a wider scope and complexity in patch management.

Added to this is the lack of communication from vendors regarding available patches which results in delays in discovering and deploying them.

Finally, inadequate integration between patch management solutions and third-party applications may lead to inefficient or ineffective deployment processes.

Example

A good example of this is what happened to global shipping firm Maersk in 2017 – they experienced a severe ransomware attack due to neglecting to apply the patch for a Ukrainian accounting software called MeDoc, resulting in significant operational disruptions and financial losses.

The Solution

Organizations need a reliable patch management system that can handle different kinds of applications if they want to avoid similar incidents.

With PurpleSec’s multi-platform coverage, organizations can manage and deploy patches for hundreds of third-party apps from one console, allowing them to stay secure by making sure their applications are up-to-date.

9. Deploying Patches Without Disrupting Operations

Ensuring consistent patch release schedules from third-party vendors can be a challenge when trying to plan and coordinate patching efforts, as delivery methods and formats vary greatly.

This is even more complex with the diverse array of software ecosystems within organizations, expanding the scope of patch management significantly.

Further complicating matters is the lack of vendor communication about available patches which can lead to time-consuming delays in discovery and deployment.

Inadequate integration between patch management solutions and third-party applications increases the risks of inefficient or ineffective processes during the deployment phase.

Example

A good example of this is the 2017 Microsoft patch rollout which caused numerous issues for their customers due to unexpected compatibility issues and system crashes, leading to downtime and loss of productivity.

The Solution

To prevent such scenarios, organizations need a well-planned patch deployment strategy with thorough testing and validation before rollout.

Look for a solution that allows you to test updates in a controlled environment before deployment, ensuring minimal impact on business operations while helping maintain strong security standards.

PurpleSec’s automated vulnerability patching service helps organizations make sure that the correct balance between security and system availability is achieved when deploying patches, minimizing disruption and allowing for efficient patching.

How PurpleSec Is Solving Patch Management

PurpleSec’s patch management service provides a comprehensive solution to manage patches across varying IT environments.

Automating the process of detecting and deploying patches, PurpleSec drastically reduces the workload for IT professionals while prioritizing critical patching tasks.

Case Study: How We Reduced Vulnerability Risk By 86%

Multi-platform coverage allows organizations to manage hundreds of third-party applications from a single console while providing testing capabilities in a controlled environment.

Furthermore, PurpleSec aids in developing and implementing patch deployment policies in an effort to minimize business disruptions.

In addition, automated vulnerability patching secures systems and applications by ensuring real-time settings are scheduled correctly; this feature is especially beneficial for managing multiple domains, workgroups, and remote sites.