Keeping software up to date - why it is so important
Every program operates in an environment that never stands still. The operating system changes, new devices appear, new applications emerge, and user habits evolve. Software vendors must keep up with this - patch bugs, add features, and adapt code to what is happening around it.
In such a complex and dynamic environment, errors are inevitable. Some of them are only inconveniences. But some are security vulnerabilities - places in the code through which an external party can break into the system.
Vulnerabilities as an attack vector
Searching for and exploiting software flaws is one of the most common attack methods used by cybercriminals. In the IT security world, a discovered flaw is called a vulnerability. Information about vulnerabilities is often published publicly in knowledge bases and security reports. Most of them receive their own identifier in the CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) system. This allows administrators to quickly verify whether a given flaw affects the software they use and what actions should be taken. However, this has two sides. Administrators learn about the issue and can respond. At the same time, vulnerability details become public - and can be used by attackers.
If a vulnerability is not quickly remediated through a software update, it becomes a potential entry point into the system.
What this looks like in practice
Imagine an employee workstation where updates have not been installed for several months. The user opens an attachment in an email that exploits a known vulnerability in a browser or office suite. Malware gains access to the system and attempts to spread to other computers in the company. In such a situation, a single unpatched vulnerability can lead to the compromise of the entire organizational network.
The WannaCry ransomware attack exploited a vulnerability in Windows that was already known and had a patch available. However, in many organisations the update had not been installed in time. The malware spread across the world and paralysed thousands of systems, including parts of the UK's National Health Service infrastructure.
Why patching is difficult
Managing software updates in an organization is one of the more challenging processes in IT infrastructure maintenance - and one of the most frequently neglected.
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Keeping track of information about new vulnerabilities. Organisations often use dozens or even hundreds of different applications. Each of them can be a source of a vulnerability.
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No patch at the time of discovery. Sometimes you have to wait for an update from the vendor, and during that time the vulnerability is already publicly known.
3
Distribution. Even if a patch is available, it must be installed on all computers and servers. In larger environments, this is a logistical challenge requiring tools and procedures.
In practice, many successful attacks do not exploit new, unknown flaws. They rely on vulnerabilities that have been known for months but were simply not patched in the victim's systems.
Most common mistakes in update management
In many companies, the update process looks good only on paper. In practice, the same recurring mistakes appear: postponing updates, lack of centralized management, installing fixes only on some devices, and no monitoring of information about new vulnerabilities.
Regular patching is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of an attack on a company's IT systems.
What the update management process should look like
The software update management process should be treated as a permanent component of IT security, not as a task performed from time to time.
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Monitoring - continuously tracking sources of information about new vulnerabilities.
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Risk assessment - not every vulnerability is equally dangerous. Some require an immediate response, others can be scheduled within a normal update cycle.
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Distribution - preparing and deploying the patch on all affected devices.
What this looks like at Helpwise
At Helpwise, patching is part of an ongoing process, not a one-time action.
We track the main sources of information about new vulnerabilities and analyze the threat level of each of them. We then verify whether the vulnerability affects software used by our clients. If so - we identify devices that may be exposed.
The next step is to find the appropriate fix. In some cases, this requires direct contact with the software vendor. After preparing the update, we create an installation package that is distributed to workstations and servers through a device management system. This ensures that security patches are delivered quickly across the entire environment - without requiring manual intervention on each device individually.