Patch Management: The Importance of Implementing Central Patch Management and Our Experiences Doing So

Abstract

Lehigh University is implementing the Secunia CSI application to patch faculty/staff computers on campus. This paper will cover the patch management process from the beginning to end, including vendor identification, application testing, vendor selection, implementation, deployment, and interpreting the results. We will discuss the importance of using a patch management solution to guard against data breaches as well as how vulnerable computers are without one. This paper will focus on why we chose Secunia over other products and why patch management is an increasingly necessary solution in all sectors. With breaches occurring daily, we must work on prevention. There are countless vulnerabilities across a variety of products on University computers, including: Adobe Flash, Java, and web browsers. Users often fall victim to viruses and malware as a result of these unpatched or outdated applications. Universities deal with sensitive and valuable data that needs to be protected. Patching software can help prevent breaches and therefore secure campus assets. No matter how you do it, the importance of patch management cannot be overstated.