PATCH UPDATE
WHAT ARE PATCHES?
A patch, in English patch or patch, also known as fix or bugfix is one small piece of software used to update or improve a program and fix a security vulnerability, usually called a bug, within an operating system or software program.
The complexity of computer networks and continuos software security vulnerability issues, every day, they test system administrators.
THE site vulnerability issues often they arrive due to bugs inherent in the software itself, for this reason the management of updates and patches must become fundamental during the life of a website.
As much as systems vendors strive to release secure solutions, technological evolution and threats from the web which become more and more sophisticated, on the one hand they release increasingly innovative and dynamic solutions, on the other hand, they destabilize the business continuity of the company.
Furthermore, today, the use of smartphones also for navigation has made the website vulnerability issue, both on the software side and on the operating systems side.
For this It is essential to adopt practices to support the security of your website.
Pre-establish procedures for website updates and patches you work with will keep your business running smoothly by putting in security your website from any external anomalies and vulnerabilities.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UPDATES AND PATCHES?
While the updates are carried out for the purpose of enhancing the functionality of a website and improve its performance, patches are strings of code on which the system administrator works, as a preventive measure to keep websites safe from external vulnerabilities and to resolve any system bugs (defects).
There Patch management it is an essential aspect of safety and therefore for the protection of the data contained in a website, since cybercriminals are hunting for system bugs and thanks to these they build the most annoying threats whose harmful effects last for a long time.
WHO TO CONTACT TO UPDATE PATCHES?
Lpatch update it is a resource-consuming and demanding activity personnel qualified to work on the procedures for securing websites and, in the most complicated cases, of real working groups capable of dealing with emergencies.
The work to be carried out for thepatch update obviously it varies according to the size of the company, but whether it is a small company or a large company, patch management needs to be done efficiently.
The work of system administrators often, unlike what one might think, does not end after the update has taken place, since cybercriminals could continue to target that website that contains important information for them, taking action to bypass the security systems as well.
It is at this point that the role of the system administrator becomes fundamental, since, constantly monitoring the safety of the sites, on the first attempt at an illegal entry work on patches to make sure that the cybercriminal fails in the attempt to hack the site and take possession of the data.
Furthermore, the patch they are files of considerable size and therefore necessarily require a fast internet connection in order to download the installation programs.
Keep the operating system up to date, as well as ensuring a certain safety it is a legal obligation.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS ABOUT PATCHES
One of the safety requirements required by the Code regarding the protection of personal data, is the adoption of measures for the protection of tools and data against illegal processing and unauthorized access. Therefore, the owner and / or manager must, according to the intervals provided for by the code:
- periodically install updates to computer programs, aimed at preventing the vulnerability of electronic tools and correcting defects (patches or update programs).
The technical specification annexed to the Code, in the revision of the minimum security measures carried out with electronic instruments, lists, among the measures to be checked periodically, the Patch o update programs, or the updating of computer programs aimed at correcting defects and preventing vulnerabilities of electronic tools.
With regard to these updates, in the Section "The other security measures ”of the Technical Regulations, you will find the provisions relating toobligation to update programs for computer aimed at preventing the vulnerability of electronic tools and correcting their defects.
This obligation, as required by the Law, must have:
- annually if the software contains common data
- every six months when dealing with sensitive or judicial data.
What does this prescription refer to?
The rule refers to the so-called Update patch released by software producers to support programs previously marketed.
Since these are minimum security measures, it is considered appropriate not to delay the updating activity, considering the risks in terms of security.
Be careful not to confuse Patches with Releases!
- Patch: are made available to the owner of the software to remedy the presence of software malfunctions;
-Release: new version of the programs that implies new or additional features.
The minimum security measures provided for in the technical annex do not provide for a specific obligation to have the latest version of the software used in the company, but theobligation to install the update patches at the intervals required by law.
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