Summary
This document is a checklist designed to guide organizations in establishing an effective patch management process. It outlines the critical steps necessary to mitigate cybersecurity risks associated with unpatched software, which is a significant threat in IT environments. The checklist begins by emphasizing the importance of creating and maintaining an IT asset inventory to understand what needs protection. It details the establishment of a clear patch management policy that facilitates the identification, evaluation, testing, and deployment of software patches. A consistent patch schedule is recommended to minimize disruptions, alongside the automation of patch management processes to enhance efficiency and reduce human error. The document also stresses the need for testing patches in a controlled environment before deployment and prioritizing patches based on risk factors. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity of timely patch deployment, monitoring and auditing the patch management process, and having a rollback plan in case of issues. Finally, it suggests performing post-patch analysis to improve future patch cycles.
