

Publish Date
28/05/2024
Categories
Blogs
Keeping your business safe from cyber threats is a top priority in today’s digital landscape. One key aspect of this is ensuring your systems are regularly updated with the latest patches.
Cyber attackers often exploit vulnerabilities left unaddressed by outdated software, leading to potential financial losses and breaches for businesses. Addressing these vulnerabilities through regular patch management is crucial.
In a 2019 survey conducted by Ponemon Institute, 60% of breach victims said they were compromised due to known vulnerabilities they didn’t patch. In 2021, Microsoft found that more than half of known network vulnerabilities were due to missing patches, and a staggering 68% of organisations hit by ransomware lacked effective patch management. Clearly, patching is an absolute necessity for any business when it comes to their cyber security.
Patch management involves the timely deployment of updates by third-party applications to address evolving vulnerability gaps. This ensures that the software remains resilient against potential security breaches, mitigating the risk of exploitation by malicious actors.
By promptly applying updates as they become available, organisations can minimise their exposure to vulnerabilities, reducing the window of opportunity for a breach. Basically, you’re keeping your digital defences up-to-date to ward off potential attacks.
With technology advancing rapidly, cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, especially with the rise of AI. Attackers can now exploit vulnerabilities faster than ever, meaning developers are having to constantly release patches where there may be a security gap.
While patching manually is possible, it can be time-consuming and prone to delays which is not ideal when it’s neck and neck between you and a potential cyber-attack. In fact, it is estimated it takes 28 days to patch once a high-risk vulnerability is detected on-premises.
On the other hand, automating patch updates streamlines the process, ensuring your systems stay protected without the risk of human error. Just remember to plan out these automatic patch updates so that you have the least amount of disruption for your business as possible. Not only does then mean less downtime for your business, but your IT team will have greater internal availability for other projects.
It may not always be possible with every application to just ‘automatically patch’. But if external management is the route you want to take, you could consider working with a managed service provider (MSP) to ensure seamless patch management.
Integrating patch management into your IT strategy is crucial for maintaining security best practices. Partnering with an MSP that offers automated patch management, along with device management and proactive monitoring, ensures your systems are always protected.
At Cobweb, we provide a comprehensive Microsoft managed service with third-party patch management for over 1500 applications. Our experts will handle the patching process, freeing you to focus on your core strengths and responsibilities. Learn more here about our managed services to keep your business secure and resilient.
Thursday 13th June 2024 @ 3PM
Publish Date
10/10/2023
Categories
Blogs
Navigating the fast-paced evolution of the IT landscape can be daunting for any IT team, often diverting their attention from core responsibilities. Amid juggling various internal roles, certain critical IT operations may unintentionally be overlooked.
So which IT processes in your business could be being missed out?
Aligning IT with business strategic initiatives is crucial for ensuring that technology is being leveraged effectively to achieve organisational goals. This can drive productivity, enhance customer experience, and provide a competitive edge. Having time for regular training ensures the IT team understands business processes, while key performance indicators help measure alignment. Effective change management processes and an emphasis on innovation further ensure that IT initiatives not only support but also drive business goals. By removing the mundane tasks, businesses can accelerate the rate they are able to work towards these objectives.
As cyber attacks persistently threaten businesses, frequent vulnerability assessments are vital to identify software flaws and potential risk factors. In fact, 97% of IT decision makers moved to a manged service due to being a target of phishing attacks. Vulnerability assessments should be second nature to your IT team, ensuring your business remains one step ahead of these potential attackers. However, faced with an abundance of responsibilities, consistently managing these assessments can become increasingly challenging.
Patching is one of those jobs a lot of technicians think about as ‘I’ll just do that later’. And that may be because the flaw in the system isn’t seen as that serious, or there are more pressing needs elsewhere. But fixing these flaws may be the only barrier in the way between your business and a large data breach. It should never be left as a ‘later’ job as it could leave you and your business at serious risk.
If any of these processes are being overlooked due to overwhelming workloads in your business, it might be time to consider a Managed Service Provider (MSP). At Cobweb, we prioritise making our customers’ lives easier by offering comprehensive solutions:
Expert Talent at Your Service: No need to expand budgets or hire new IT members; our team has all the expertise you require.
Proactive Vulnerability Assessments: We constantly monitor your systems, recommend improvements, and implement measures to keep attackers at bay.
Patching Made Simple: Your workstation, server, and security appliances receive regular patching, minimising security risks.
Staying Ahead of Technology: We keep up to date with the latest technology and implement it into your systems.
Focus on Innovation: With Cobweb managing your tech systems, you’ll have ample time to focus on your business’s innovation. Simply put, we are just an extension of your team!
If your IT team is stretched thin, there’s a viable solution. Get in touch with our team today for a free consultation, and let’s tailor Managed Service options to suit your unique needs. Your IT team might lack time, but a feasible solution is within reach!
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