Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Technologies

Published

July 22, 2013

Author(s)

Murugiah P. Souppaya, Karen Scarfone

Abstract

Patch management is the process for identifying, acquiring, installing, and verifying patches for products and systems. Patches correct security and functionality problems in software and firmware. There are several challenges that complicate patch management. If organizations do not overcome these challenges, they will be unable to patch systems effectively and efficiently, leading to easily preventable compromises. This publication is designed to assist organizations in understanding the basics of enterprise patch management technologies. It explains the importance of patch management and examines the challenges inherent in performing patch management. It provides an overview of enterprise patch management technologies and it also briefly discusses metrics for measuring the technologies' effectiveness and for comparing the relative importance of patches. [Supersedes SP 800-40 Version 2.0 (November 2005): http://www.nist.gov/manuscript-publication- search.cfm?pub_id=150402]

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-40 Rev 3

Report Number

800-40 Rev 3

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Supercedes Publication

Creating a Patch and Vulnerability Management Program

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DOI Link

Keywords

information security, patch management, remediation, software patches, vulnerability management

Citation

Souppaya, M. and Scarfone, K. (2013), Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Technologies, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-40r3 (Accessed November 20, 2024)