In our hyper-connected digital age, protecting your business from potential acts of cybercrime should be one of your top priorities.
While it’s true that big international organizations make attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to breach data and breakdown security barriers, small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) aren’t exempt from hacks – the kind of which that can cause enormous devastation in a matter of moments.
SMBs, like yours, account for around 58% of all security or data breaches – that’s a figure you can’t afford to ignore. Moreover, two-thirds of SMBs have experienced some form of a cyber-attack within the past 12 – 14 months.
It’s clear: protecting your business from cybercrime is essential, and one of the most effective ways of doing so, sustainably, is though superior patch management.
What is patch management?
Fundamentally, patch management is the process of consistently installing patches (a set of code changes to a particular program) and software updates for every single platform, application, and item within your company’s IT infrastructure.
The primary aim of software patches is to tackle and iron out any ongoing bugs in your system, and most importantly, to patch up vulnerable sections of penetrable or ‘cyber weak’ code that makes your IT infrastructure vulnerable to devastating acts of cybercrime.
Through consistent and strategic patch management, you’ll be able to make sure that every endpoint within your IT infrastructure is protected against data breaches or cyber hacks while ensuring the optimum efficiency of your entire system.
In essence, not only does cloud patch management help protect against cyber-attacks, but it will also make your IT infrastructure more productive since all of your software would be up to date with the latest software release.
The importance of software patches
As mentioned, software patches are integral to the ongoing health and security of your IT infrastructure. By correcting weaknesses and closing gaps within your IT system, software patches make sure that every cog within your organizational wheel is water-tight from acts of cybercrime.
But, to help you fully understand the software patches – and how every single patch counts – let’s explore the Equifax data breach of 2017.
Widely considered as one of the most prolific data breaches of all time, the world-renowned credit-based data analytics & technology company was targeted by hackers on a mass scale.
In the devastating breach, at least 209,000 consumers’ credit card credentials were stolen. And, the knock-on effect of the attack affected 2.4 million additional consumers through system inefficiencies and personal data leaks.
In addition to a tremendous financial hit and a considerable dent in the company’s reputation, trust has been lost by many as this colossal hack was achieved because to one single patch wasn’t installed. The failure to install one particular software patch left a gaping hole that was manipulated by a cybercriminal swiftly, and with ease.
If it can happen to Equifax, it can happen to you – and that’s why software patches are so very important.
“The knock-on effect of a data breach can be devastating for a company. When customers start taking their business—and their money—elsewhere, that can be a real body blow.” – Christopher Graham
Final thoughts
Cybercrime is on the rise – and your business is not exempt. If you fail to invest in your business’s cyber security initiatives, you’re leaving your virtual door wide open: it only takes one small act to create a colossal problem – don’t let it happen to you.
In today’s digital age, there is a host of security options available but if you’re looking for something truly safe, secure and sustainable, investing in your patch management strategy is the best way to protect your business. For more cyber security insights, read up on what everyone needs to know about cyber security.
