Patch management
The ongoing process of tracking, testing and applying software updates that fix known security vulnerabilities, rather than updating only when something breaks.
Why 'update when something breaks' is not a strategy
Waiting for a visible failure to trigger updates means every known, already-patched vulnerability sits unaddressed for however long that takes, which is exactly the window that n-day exploits are built to take advantage of.
What a working process actually looks like
A basic process tracks which packages have available updates, distinguishes routine updates from critical security fixes that need faster turnaround, and tests changes before they reach production wherever practical, rather than applying everything blindly the moment it is released.
Frequently asked questions
How often should patches be applied?
Critical security patches should be applied as soon as practically possible; routine, non-security updates can follow a slower, scheduled cadence such as a weekly or monthly patch window.
Is automated patching enough on its own?
For most routine updates, yes, through something like unattended-upgrades. Critical fixes sometimes still warrant a faster, manually confirmed rollout rather than waiting for the next automated cycle.
What is the risk of patching too aggressively without testing?
An update can occasionally break a dependency or configuration; testing critical services after major updates, especially kernel or database upgrades, reduces the chance of an update itself causing an outage.
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