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Patch management

Simplify software updates with TeamViewer

Effective IT management requires the ongoing ability to track, monitor, update, and secure every IT asset within your organization. Patch management is a crucial part of this. 

Remote access and support with the TeamViewer Remote client

Modernizing patch management

Benefits and methods

  • Patches must be applied in the right place at the right time to deny threat actors entry and keep your business-critical infrastructure running as it should
  • Manually checking for and applying patches is no easy task; especially with a growing technology stack and a scattered workforce
  • Patch management involves monitoring patch notifications from vendors and other sources and cross-referencing these alerts with your asset inventory to see if and where they apply. You then need to check the patches for potential compatibility issues and performance impacts before deployment and rollout
  • Traditional approaches to patch management rely heavily on manual input from IT team members. There are two big problems with this. Firstly, it’s time and resource intensive. Secondly, it increases the risk of missing something and exposing your business to critical vulnerabilities

A best-in-class remote management solution and establishing an effective patch management policy, you can safeguard your assets and protect your business.

Here’s why a more intelligent approach to patch management can benefit your IT team and the wider business:

Staying on top of the exploit threat

In 2020, there were just over 18,000 CVEs (common vulnerability exploits) identified and reported. By 2023, that number topped 29,000. The CVE threat is here to stay. And as operating systems and applications grow ever more complex, chances are that it will continue to increase. 

IT and cybersecurity managers must avoid a scenario, in which they roll out a patch, but overlook a couple of endpoints. These vulnerabilities can be exploited and used as a springboard for one of many possible attack techniques, including denial of service, information theft, or remote code execution (e.g., for a ransomware attack).  

With a modern approach to patch management, the rollout and deployment of security patches can be automated — the fear of your assets being overlooked will be massively reduced.

Managing a growing IT inventory

Research shows that half of all enterprise business users interact with between 11 and 33 applications each month. The top 1% interact with more than 96 apps each month. 

In most organizations, the volume of software assets is growing. Let’s say you are currently ‘just getting by’ with your existing patch management practices. Even if your workforce headcount remains fairly static, the sheer volume of patch rounds you deal with each month is only going to increase. A capacity tipping point is inevitable; it’s just a matter of when.

With automated patch management in place, there’s no need to reach that tipping point. You can embrace digital transformation and approve and onboard a whole host of new applications and projects, safe in the knowledge that patch management will be handled efficiently and securely.

Serving a dispersed workforce

If all people and devices are based in one place, IT technicians can move systematically from desk to desk to manually apply updates. It’s a time-consuming process, but at least it’s physically possible.

When areas of the business that were previously analog turn digital (e.g. IoT transformation in manufacturing,) this becomes a lot harder to administer, potentially involving physical call-outs to multiple sites. It gets especially difficult when users work remotely, to the point where you may be reliant on users themselves to administer patch installs, giving rise to the risk that guidance or instructions will be incorrectly followed or ignored. 

Modern patch management allows you to successfully implement all updates for all devices and users, no matter where they are based. When combined with comprehensive remote access and remote control capabilities, centrally-based technicians can instantly see any device to ensure that patches have been successfully implemented.

Patch management in practice

What does effective patch management involve? What should you look for in a patch management software solution? To enhance your cyber security stance, reduce the chances of system downtime, and make better use of your IT budget, here are the capabilities to focus on:

  • Automation

    Automation is an essential element of any modern patch management approach. The right solution should enable you to keep your entire IT estate up-to-date and secure by automatically evaluating and applying patches as and when they are issued. This shouldn’t just be for operating system updates, but also for the wide range of business software applications you have in place. 

  • Centralized visibility

    Patch management ties in with your wider IT asset management strategy. As part of this, you should be able to instantly view and manage the status of all your devices, software assets, and other IT resources from a single location.

  • Customization

    One size fits all rarely applies in IT management. For regulatory, security, and other reasons, you may need to apply different rules for different users and asset types. For patching, while you may be happy to fully automate most updates, you might want to retain full manual control over other, more sensitive applications. The solution you choose should be fully configurable to match your policies and preferences.

  • Remote control and access

    Most patches are minor code additions and bug fixes. Sometimes, however, vendors use patching to roll out more significant changes (e.g., new security features). These can have a more substantial impact on performance and can lead to users. If your patch management solution also comes with remote access and control capabilities, it means you can connect to and control any user device, and resolve problems quickly — all without leaving your desk.

Patch management: An essential component of asset management

TeamViewer Remote Management gives you everything you need to keep every part of your IT infrastructure up to date. 

Decide on your patching policies and automate your processes in a way that works best for your business. Keep track of every technical resource on your network. Accelerate digital transformation while freeing up IT resources and safeguarding your business from the constant threat of software vulnerabilities. TeamViewer Patch Management makes it all possible.

Automatically deploy OS (Windows and macOS) patches, as well as patches for hundreds of supported third-party applications from a single location.

Define individual policies to meet the varying needs of your end users, entire departments, or different customers.

Gain greater visibility across your network by automatically detecting vulnerabilities caused by outdated software.

See what patches are live and check the status of your devices from one convenient and easy-to-use dashboard.

Fully integrated into TeamViewer, all it takes is the click of a button to roll out your new patch management solution remotely.

Use TeamViewer to provide instant support to users and resolve patch-related issues. With remote access and control of any device, you can check performance, reconfigure applications as needed, and resolve problems remotely.

Patch management involves updating software to address security vulnerabilities, and is a part of the asset management solution.

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Why choose TeamViewer for patch management?

Simplified updates

Streamline your entire patching process, with the ability to remotely deploy updates across all devices in all locations. Significantly reduce the need for physical intervention by IT teams and free up resources for more valuable activities.

Enhanced security

Reduce the critical time gap between vendor patch releases and actual implementation. This denies threat actors a window of opportunity, significantly reducing the likelihood of a cyberattack.

Reduced downtime

Configure and schedule your patching procedures in a way that works best for your business. TeamViewer’s Wake-On-LAN capabilities mean you can wake any sleeping device to implement updates, allowing you to patch outside of normal working hours to reduce disruption.

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FAQs

Cyber threat actors are opportunists, constantly on the lookout for new vulnerabilities to exploit. When software vendors release patches to address security vulnerabilities, the quicker you can apply those patches, the smaller the window of opportunity for threat actors to take action. 

Patch management provides a framework for ensuring the right security updates are deployed on the right applications and devices. This reduces the likelihood of being hit by a CVE-linked attack.

Yes. With a trusted patch management solution like TeamViewer, it is possible to implement patches automatically across all relevant devices and applications, as soon as those software updates are released.

Remote software updates make it possible to deploy patches across all of your devices and applications, wherever they happen to be based, from a single location. Removing the need for physical intervention by technicians makes patch management a lot easier and more cost-effective. It also reduces the likelihood that devices will be overlooked in the rollout schedule, helping you maintain the strongest possible security stance.