Fortifying the defences with patch management

Blake Jeffery at Intelliworx describes the patching lessons every business can take from the Ivanti and Crowdstrike incidents

 

Cybersecurity is a game of vigilance, where every decision an organisation makes counts towards safeguarding their digital assets. 

 

Amid all the complex strategies and advanced technologies, proactive patch management emerges as a simple yet vital practice. It’s the process of addressing vulnerabilities before they become entry points for attackers, ensuring systems are protected, data is secure, and operations remain uninterrupted. 

 

Patch management - the process of applying updates and fixes to software, operating systems, and applications - is important for all businesses. 

 

These updates are essential as they address vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit to gain unauthorised access, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations. Think of patching as fortifying the walls of a digital fortress – fixing the cracks before attackers have a chance to exploit them. Without a proactive approach, organisations leave themselves exposed to potentially devastating cyberattacks. 

 

Learning from Ivanti and Crowdstrike

To understand why patching matters so much, we can learn from incidents where poor patch management led to critical consequences. 

 

The CrowdStrike incident of July 2024 delivers a stark reminder of what can happen when patching falls short. On 19 July 2024, an update to the Falcon Sensor software caused disruptions due to a logic flaw. Millions of Windows devices faced recurring crashes and the infamous “Blue Screen of Death”, with over 8.5 million devices worldwide experiencing interruptions in operations. 

 

Organisations collectively lost $5.4 billion due to downtime and halted productivity, while CrowdStrike faced reputational damage and a 13% drop in stock value, and client trust in the company’s reliability had eroded significantly.

 

Similarly, the Ivanti zero-day vulnerability exposed another dangerous outcome of ineffective patching. 

 

Discovered in December 2024, CVE-2025-0282 allowed attackers to exploit Ivanti Connect Secure devices. Hackers used the flaw to execute remote code and infiltrate networks, with a fake update tool deceiving administrators and leaving systems unpatched while appearing secured. 

 

As a result, organisations faced unauthorised access, data breaches, and operational disruption, while brand trust in Ivanti’s security offerings diminished, damaging its reputation. Recovery efforts also added costs and delayed business continuity. 

 

Risks of delayed patching

Postponing the application of critical patches can significantly jeopardise an organisation’s security and operations. 

This includes heightened security vulnerabilities, with unpatched systems being prime targets for cybercriminals looking for gaps they can exploit. Known vulnerabilities offer attackers an easy and well-documented avenue to infiltrate networks and deploy malware. 

 

In addition, delayed patching can increase the risk of data breaches. Sensitive data, such as customer details or intellectual property, is at greater risk when patches are postponed. If attackers gain access, the resulting data breach can lead to severe financial losses, erosion of customer trust, and long-lasting reputational damage. 

 

Then there’s the risk of operational disruptions. Cyberattacks that exploit pending vulnerabilities can cause major interruptions in business activities. This often results in unplanned downtime, decreased productivity, and unexpected financial repercussions due to halted operations. 

 

Regulatory non-compliance is also a factor to consider. Many legal frameworks, including GDPR and HIPAA, mandate up-to-date security practices. Delayed patching can lead to violations of these regulations, resulting in hefty fines, legal disputes, and a tarnished business reputation. 

 

Incident response can also be affected. When patches are delayed, organisations must dedicate greater resources to managing attacks that could have been prevented. Teams may find themselves stretched thin, responding to crises instead of focusing on proactive cybersecurity measures. 

 

Best practices for effective patching

IT managers, cybersecurity professionals, and business decision-makers play a pivotal role in safeguarding their organisations from cyber threats.

 

To ensure robust security and operational resilience, having an up-to-date inventory of hardware and software is crucial. For instance, in healthcare, keeping track of medical devices and patient management systems ensures critical equipment is not overlooked during patching, safeguarding patient data and operations.  

 

It’s also important to focus on high-priority patches that address urgent vulnerabilities first. Financial services organisations, for example, need to patch critical systems promptly to prevent breaches that could expose sensitive customer data or disrupt transaction processing. 

 

While testing updates in a controlled environment is essential to avoid disruptions. A legal firm, for instance, could test patches on case management software to ensure seamless integration before deploying updates firm-wide. 

 

Automating patch management can also significantly improve efficiency. For non-profits with limited IT resources, automated solutions ensure systems are consistently updated without requiring constant manual oversight, prioritising mission-critical functions. 

 

In addition, educating staff on the importance of patch management and their role in the process goes a long way. For example, in healthcare, training clinical staff to report unusual application behaviour helps IT teams respond quickly to potential vulnerabilities, reducing risk exposure. 

 

Patch management is more than just routine maintenance - it’s an organisation’s first line of defence against cyber threats. Addressing vulnerabilities promptly reduces risks, protects sensitive data, and builds trust with your clients and stakeholders. It’s an essential step in maintaining compliance and strengthening systems against evolving security challenges, giving organisations the resilience they need to thrive in today’s digital world. 

 

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Blake Jeffery is Global Chief Operating Officer at Intelliworx

 

Main image courtesy of iSTockPhoto.com and PashaIgnatov