Patches and Updates are Vital to Your Infrastructure’s Security

When you acquire a new device, you’re not just getting the physical device and whatever software is installed on it. You’re also getting any patches and updates that the manufacturer and software developers release. Nonetheless, many users neglect to incorporate these crucial improvements. Allow us to explain why patches and updates are so imperative.

Why Patches and Updates Matter
When you initially come into possession of a new PC workstation, laptop, tablet, or other mobile device, it comes with certain protections against threats and malware. Still, these threats are constantly upgrading in order to overcome these protections, and furthermore, these protections aren’t always impeccable.

If nothing is done, your device will quickly become vulnerable to threats, including malware.

This is exactly why manufacturers and software developers strive to upgrade their creations, releasing their improvements in the form of security updates and software patches. These patches and updates are their retaliation against the malware developers and distributors who strive to overcome the security that the devices you utilize have in place.

The Difference between Patches and Updates 
While they serve basically the same purpose, there are a few vital differences between patches and software updates. While both inevitably are designed to resolve security issues, the scope of these processes are different.

Patches are essentially what they sound like: a swift fix that covers a hole in your business’ security until a more permanent solution can be utilized. The software update is the relatively more powerful solution, taking the patch and integrating what it fixes into the new version of the software.

It's common for you to be prompted to install these patches and updates as they are released. The developers of these don’t want to be held responsible for anyone being victimized by whatever the patch or update was supposed to fix simply because the user wasn’t notified that a fix was available.

Macro Systems is Here to Help
When confronted with the choice to install a patch or update and then have to wait for the process to complete, it can be very tempting to put off the patch or update until a more opportune time.

At Macro Systems we’re available to install these vital updates and patches when your workforce isn’t active at their workstations. For more information on how we can assist you in your patching and updating, reach out to us at 703-359-9211!