Cybersecurity is vital in the digital age we live in, but it’s not always on the minds of busy business owners. Server patching should be performed routinely to keep businesses and accounts safe. However, patching isn’t always done when it should be, and this could lead to catastrophic consequences for your company because an unpatched server significantly increases the chance of becoming a victim of a cyberattack that can wipe out years of hard work.
What Is Server Patching?
Server patching refers to the process of installing OS and third-party application updates to the servers in your organization in order to enhance server security and performance. Think of it as routine maintenance for your servers—similar to how you’d update your apps on your smartphone.
These patches are being installed on physical and virtual servers in order to fix security vulnerabilities, enhance performance, and add new features to operating systems and applications. Handling patches manually is a tedious and time-consuming process; for that reason, many organizations nowadays use automated tools that are able to schedule and install these updates automatically, commonly during off-peak hours, minimizing disruptions to business operations.
Server patches are fundamental for preventing data breaches, maintaining compliance with security standards, and ensuring servers can handle workloads efficiently. Server patching is a complex process that needs to be done both quickly and accurately in order to minimize risks and maximize security.
What is the main difference between server patching and server updating?
Despite the fact that many people use these terms interchangeably, server patching and updating serve distinct purposes in their mission to enhance the security of your server and improve the overall performance. Understanding their unique characteristics is essential for creating effective system management. Let’s explore each of them in order to understand how they differ:
-
Patch: Server patching Server patching addresses specific issues, such as security vulnerabilities or bugs, in the software by installing the latest patches. The server patch management important tasks usually involve smaller, more frequent fixes that can be installed quickly in order to minimize server downtime while fixing these software weaknesses.
-
Update: Server updates provide broader changes to server operating systems and applications; they often add new features, functionalities, substantial improvements, or other major version upgrades.
Simply put, think of patching as applying fixes to a specific problem in order to enhance security and stability, while server updating is more like a comprehensive overhaul, which adds new features and functionalities that will improve the software and its capabilities. Nowadays, every self-respected organization has been equipped with an automated server patch management tool that is capable of handling these processes efficiently and error-free—patching for immediate security needs and updating for long-term system changes.
Why Is It Important to Patch Servers?
Server patching plays a critical role in maintaining the health and security of your organization’s IT infrastructure. It reduces the risk of becoming a victim of a cyber attack by enhancing the server’s security, keeping your data protected, and last but not least, guaranteeing compliance with the constantly evolving regulations.
One of the most important reasons to regularly patch your server is because it addresses security vulnerability issues that could be exploited by cybercriminals, which can lead to catastrophic consequences for the organization. Other server risk factors associated with unpatched servers are loss of data and lost productivity, which can have a negative impact on your business.
Software patches, when being installed in a timely manner while minimizing downtime, can significantly improve server performance, but most importantly, they will update and enhance the server’s security posture and close these software vulnerabilities before being exploited by the mean cybercriminals.
Keep in mind that regular server patch management should align with your organization’s risk management strategy and system vendor recommendations. While critical security patches require immediate installation after release, routine patch management follows a scheduled process. Most organizations perform patch management monthly, with emergency patches deployed as needed for zero-day vulnerabilities or critical security fixes.
In order to make things even more clear, let’s explore more closely the benefits that successful server patching provides your company with:
Enhanced security
It is a well-known fact that servers are cybercriminals’ prime target; they are constantly searching for unpatched systems because they are vulnerable to cyber attacks, and these vulnerabilities can be easily exploited in order to launch malware, ransomware, and other malicious attacks. Installing patches immediately after the system vendor releases the update ensures that these risks are significantly reduced.
Regulatory compliance
Server patching delivers crucial regulatory compliance benefits for organizations across industries. Regular patching helps companies meet mandatory security requirements set by frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and GDPR. By maintaining up-to-date patches, companies demonstrate their commitment to data protection and system security standards. This proactive approach not only satisfies regulatory requirements but also helps avoid costly non-compliance penalties.
System stability and reliability
Each update fixes bugs and improves system processes and overall performance, preventing potential network failures that could spread across connected systems. Think of patching as maintenance for your digital infrastructure—skip it, and small issues can grow into major problems.
Enhanced Performance
Server patching does more than fixing security bugs and vulnerabilities; it optimizes your server’s operations. These updates often include performance improvements that speed up processes, reduce resource usage, and add new functionality or expand existing capabilities. By keeping systems current, you get both stronger security and better performance. This dual benefit means your servers not only run faster but also stay protected against the latest cyber threats.
Cost Savings
Unpatched systems expose your business to significant financial risks. While maintaining a strong patch strategy requires investment, it costs far less than recovering from cyber incidents or extended downtime. Regular updates protect both your bottom line and business reputation, making server patch management one of your most valuable security investments.
How does server patching work, and what steps should you take prior to it?
Now that we understand why patching servers is critically important and the benefits it brings for organizations, it is time to understand how this process works and which are the preparation steps that need to be taken before patching your server. Let’s get started:
Step 1. Establish a patch management policy
A robust patch management policy forms the foundation of effective system maintenance. This policy should detail updated protocols based on business needs, security priorities, and compliance requirements. It serves as the framework for maintaining system integrity and network security across your infrastructure.
Step 2. Conduct Inventory Assessment
Begin with a comprehensive system audit, where you have to document your server inventory and evaluate current patch status across all endpoints; this assessment will help identify security gaps and outdated software versions, enabling precise update planning and resource allocation.
Step 3. Create Test Environment
Creating a test environment is crucial before deploying patches. This controlled setting allows IT teams to verify patch compatibility and identify potential conflicts that could impact your production environment.
Step 4. Implement backup strategy
Last but not least, it is mandatory to have on your side a robust and effective backup strategy; thus, you will be able to quickly recover the server(s) if any complications arise during the patching process.
After completing these steps for preparation, you can now proceed with the server patching process, which follows these detailed steps:
Step 1. Automated Discovery
Utilize specialized patching software that has the capabilities to monitor your systems and identify missing patches, categorizing them by severity and type.
Step 2. Risk Assessment
Evaluate each patch’s potential impact on network security and system stability.
Step 3. Validation Testing
Next in line is to execute thorough testing protocols in the staged environment, including:
-
Compatibility verification
-
Performance impact assessment
-
Application functionality testing
Step 4. Deployment Planning
Schedule maintenance windows during off-peak hours, considering geographical locations and user activity patterns.
Step 5. Implementation Strategy
Always deploy patches in phases:
-
Begin with non-critical development servers.
-
Progress to staging servers.
-
Finally, update production environments.
Step 6. Post-Deployment Monitoring
After the patches are being installed, it is vital to track system performance metrics and application behavior for any unforeseen impacts caused by the patches. Monitor server performance and application behavior for at least 24-48 hours post-patching. This systematic approach helps maintain optimal system performance while strengthening your infrastructure against potential security vulnerabilities and meeting compliance regulations.
Nowadays, many organizations use and rely on automated patch management tools to streamline this process, protecting their servers against cyber threats while maintaining operational efficiency and improving the software. These patching tools can schedule updates, track deployment progress, and generate compliance reports automatically, which proves to be extremely helpful because it minimizes the manual workload of your IT team.
How does a perfect server patch management process look like?
A successful patch management process forms the core of server security and stability. Rather than treating each update as a separate event, modern organizations view patching as an ongoing cycle of improvement and protection.
The process starts with thorough assessment and planning. Your security team should regularly monitor the servers for required software updates, evaluate their importance, and create a clear schedule that aligns with business operations. This initial phase helps prevent rushed decisions and reduces the risk of system disruptions.
As we already mentioned, testing stands as a crucial step before any deployment, so it is mandatory to set up a test environment that mirrors your production systems, where you can safely verify patches and identify potential problems. This controlled space lets you spot and fix issues before they affect your live environment. Document every test result and any special steps needed for successful implementation.
Key server patch management best practices
-
Create full system backups before implementing any changes.
-
Start updates with non-critical systems first.
-
Maintain detailed records of all patches and their effects.
-
Keep clear rollback procedures ready for emergencies.
The deployment phase requires careful execution; for that reason, always begin with less critical servers, then gradually move to more important systems. Monitor each update closely and be ready to roll back changes if needed. After deployment, it is vital to verify that all patches are installed correctly and that business applications run smoothly and as expected.
Regular review and adjustment complete the cycle; for that reason, it is important to track your success rates, note any challenges, and use this information to improve future updates. Keep detailed records not just for your own improvement but also for compliance requirements. This systematic approach helps balance quick security responses with system stability.
Effective server patch management processes stay flexible while following these core principles: they adapt to new threats and changing business needs while maintaining consistent security standards. By treating patch management as a continuous process rather than a periodic task, organizations can better protect their systems while minimizing disruptions to business operations.
This methodical approach helps ensure system security and reliability while making each update cycle more efficient than the last one.
Action1 is the only Patch Management Software you will ever need!
Action1 reinvents patching with an infinitely scalable, highly secure, cloud-native platform configurable in 5 minutes — it just works and is always free for the first 200 endpoints, with no functional limits. Featuring unified OS and third-party patching with peer-to-peer patch distribution and real-time vulnerability assessment with no VPN needed, it enables autonomous endpoint management that preempts ransomware and security risks, all while eliminating costly routine labor. Trusted by thousands of enterprises managing millions of endpoints globally, Action1 is certified for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The company is founder-led by industry veterans Alex Vovk and Mike Walters, who founded Netwrix, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry-leading cybersecurity company.
