Application Patch Management

Application patch management is the process of testing, acquiring, and installing patches (code changes) on computer systems. By repairing vulnerabilities in your system and identifying defective patches, this process helps your computer stay updated and secure. Microsoft WSUS and SCCM are popular solutions for managing application patches. However, maintaining patches for third-party applications can be expensive and time-consuming, especially when patches are not supported by WSUS and SCCM. 

SolarWinds application patch management software is designed so you no longer have to spend countless hours researching, scripting, packaging, and testing patches for third-party applications. Patch Manager application patch management tools are built to do all the research, scripting, packaging, and much of the testing needed for common third-party application patch management. Patches can be easily and automatically synchronized with your WSUS server. Simply deploy to one or all servers and workstations using WSUS right alongside your Microsoft patches, and get notified via email or alert when new applications patches become available for critical apps like Adobe Flash, Apple iTunes, Mozilla Firefox, and Oracle Java. 

Application security audits are critical for ensuring security across an IT infrastructure. An application security audit is a formal assessment of the security risks associated with your applications and systems. Applications can be exposed to cybersecurity threats from both external and internal sources, and an application security audit can help teams identify potential vulnerabilities. The details in an application security audit can vary depending on the devices being audited and security needs of an organization, but the following components should be present in any security audit log focused on detecting potential vulnerabilities: percentage of computers with approved updates, percentage of failed update packages, and percentage of updates installed. Organizations that want to handle application security audits in-house can do so with the help of application patch management software, which will automate the process of taking inventory, updating and patching applications, and flagging security gaps.

Security audit logging, also known as event or system logging, is the process of creating a security-focused record of an organization’s day-to-day operations and configurations. The primary benefit for audit logging is providing better visibility into application security patch status. Performing regular security log audits can help cut down on issues like missing patches falling through the cracks. Collecting logs and running reports of application update status and user activity can also help organizations with large infrastructures address potential security issues as soon as they arise. 

If a security threat has been detected and an organization is in the process of an audit, security audit logs can also act as digital paper trails. IT teams can look back in the audit logs to better understand the nature of a security incident, establish baselines, and better identify trend anomalies that may indicate security vulnerabilities.

Application log management tools make it easier for IT teams to keep accurate records of their systems, flag any issues that arise, and run reports that help demonstrate security compliance. Manually checking applications for changes or missing patches can quickly become overwhelming. Application log monitoring tools are designed to automatically track patch status, which helps enforce network security, shores up software quality, and alerts to weaknesses in the system. 

Application patch management is an important part of the security audit process, as audit insights can help reduce security risks and improve compliance through controlled patch deployment and custom reports.

Patch Manager is built to make performing application security audits simpler and more manageable, so it’s easier to diagnose and fix problems identified during the security audit process. Patch Manager offers IT teams a comprehensive list of the latest system updates, so they can keep systems running smoothly. SolarWinds Patch Manager is designed to expand Microsoft WSUS and SCCM capabilities to include publishing and reporting for third party applications, which can otherwise be a time-intensive process. Its PackageBoot technology can also help automate application patch management by creating the proper pre- and post-installation environment for even the most complex install scenarios.

• Windows Patch Management
• Java Patching 
• Security Patch Management
• Automated Software Deployment Tool
• Extend Microsoft SCCM Patch Management
• Extend Microsoft WSUS Patch Management
• WSUS Alternative
• SCCM Alternative