Vendors release patches to fix flaws in operating systems, browsers, office software, and device firmware. Patch management puts that on a schedule: new updates are identified, tried on a few machines first, rolled out to everyone, and then verified. Tools such as RMM software, Microsoft Intune, or Windows Update policies do the installation and report which devices are still behind.
Many attacks use flaws that already have a fix available, so unpatched devices are among the easiest ways into a small business. Left to individual users, updates get postponed again and again. A managed process closes those gaps on a predictable timetable and produces a record showing devices are up to date, which security schemes such as Cyber Essentials and the Essential Eight expect.
Watch for the things automatic updates miss: third-party apps, firmware on firewalls and Wi-Fi access points, and laptops that are rarely switched on. Software that the vendor no longer supports cannot be patched at all and needs replacing. Updates also need restarts, so agree on a maintenance window. We handle patching for managed devices and report on what remains outstanding.