--- title: "6 steps to successful patch management in 2019 — ZEBR.ai" description: "Growing ransomware attacks, illegal cryptocurrency mining and other threats will require an effective strategy for eliminating vulnerabilities in corporate networks" url: "https://zebr.ai/en/blog/6-steps-to-successful-patch-management-in-2019" markdown_url: "https://zebr.ai/en/blog/6-steps-to-successful-patch-management-in-2019.md" language: "en" published: "2018-12-27T08:47:07+00:00" alternates: cs: "https://zebr.ai/cs/blog/6-kroku-pro-uspesny-patch-management-v-roce-2019.md" sl: "https://zebr.ai/sl/blog/6-korakov-za-uspesno-upravljanje-popravkov-v-letu-2019.md" sk: "https://zebr.ai/sk/blog/6-krokov-k-uspesnemu-patch-managementu-v-roku-2019.md" hr: "https://zebr.ai/hr/blog/6-koraka-za-uspjesno-upravljanje-zakrpama-u-2019-godini.md" sr-Latn: "https://zebr.ai/sr-latn/blog/6-koraka-za-uspesan-patch-management-u-2019-godini.md" bs: "https://zebr.ai/bs/blog/6-koraka-za-uspjesno-upravljanje-zakrpama-u-2019-godini.md" sq: "https://zebr.ai/sq/blog/6-hapa-per-menaxhim-te-suksesshem-te-patch-eve-ne-vitin-2019.md" fr: "https://zebr.ai/fr/blog/6-etapes-pour-une-gestion-reussie-des-correctifs-en-2019.md" es: "https://zebr.ai/es/blog/6-pasos-para-una-gestion-de-parches-exitosa-en-2019.md" de: "https://zebr.ai/de/blog/6-schritte-fuer-erfolgreiches-patch-management-im-jahr-2019.md" pt-BR: "https://zebr.ai/pt-br/blog/6-passos-para-um-patch-management-bem-sucedido-em-2019.md" pl: "https://zebr.ai/pl/blog/6-krokow-do-skutecznego-zarzadzania-poprawkami-w-2019-roku.md" it: "https://zebr.ai/it/blog/6-passi-per-una-gestione-delle-patch-di-successo-nel-2019.md" nl: "https://zebr.ai/nl/blog/6-stappen-voor-succesvol-patchmanagement-in-2019.md" hu: "https://zebr.ai/hu/blog/6-lepes-a-sikeres-patch-managementhez-2019-ben.md" ro: "https://zebr.ai/ro/blog/6-pasi-pentru-un-patch-management-de-succes-in-2019.md" tr: "https://zebr.ai/tr/blog/2019-da-basarili-patch-management-icin-6-adim.md" id: "https://zebr.ai/id/blog/6-langkah-untuk-patch-management-yang-sukses-pada-tahun-2019.md" --- [Home](https://zebr.ai/en/) [Blog](https://zebr.ai/en/blog) 6 steps to successful patch management in 2019 # 6 steps to successful patch management in 2019 [GFI Software](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=gfi-software) [patch management](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=patch-management) [press release](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=press-releases) [vulnerabilities](https://zebr.ai/en/blog?tag=vulnerabilities) Growing ransomware attacks, illegal cryptocurrency mining and other threats will require an effective strategy for eliminating vulnerabilities in corporate networks 27/12/2018 · 3 min read · ZEBR.ai editorial team *Growing ransomware attacks, illegal cryptocurrency mining and other threats will require an effective strategy for eliminating vulnerabilities in corporate networks* **PRAGUE, December 27, 2018**– [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi-software.cz/)**,** a provider of corporate network security solutions, has introduced **6 key steps of an effective patch management strategy** that will make it possible to minimize the risks of corporate networks being compromised by various malicious activities in 2019. The strategy includes, among other things, network auditing, risk assessment, prioritization, and testing and implementation of the established policy. According to a [GFI Software report](https://techtalk.gfi.com/the-most-vulnerable-players-of-2017/) based on data from The National Vulnerability Database, 2017 saw a significant increase in vulnerabilities. A total of 14,712 vulnerabilities were recorded last year, 128% more than in 2016, when 6,447 vulnerabilities were recorded. The number of vulnerabilities is expected to remain high in 2018 and 2019, as the threat of ransomware attacks continues to be high and, in addition, this year saw a considerable increase in cases of computers being exploited for illegal cryptocurrency mining—by more than 600% according to some data. How to successfully protect yourself against attacks targeting vulnerabilities in your corporate network: 1. **Network auditing** – It is important to know everything that is on the computer network, i.e., PCs, servers, software and mobile devices, and to periodically check their security. 2. **Risk assessment** – Once we know what we have, it is necessary to assess all possible risks associated with our systems and software according to their severity, scope and the costs of potential business recovery. 3. **Prioritization** – Based on the risk assessment, we can determine which critical systems contain the greatest vulnerabilities and are therefore first on the list, as well as the frequency of regular patching. 4. **Setting an update policy** – We document **who** is responsible for the update process, **what** is to be updated, **when** it is to be updated and **how**. 5. **Testing**– Before putting the update policy into production, it is necessary to test how it works in a test environment and catch the final details. 6. **Implementation**– After the testing phase, it is time for implementation, but a successful launch is not the end. The patch management policy must be continuously reviewed, respond to new developments and be improved. New threats emerge every year, and 2019 will be no exception. “Most organizations are aware of the importance of regularly updating their devices, but they often use manual, and therefore very labor-intensive and time-consuming, patch management methods,” said **Zdeněk Bínek, responsible for sales of GFI Software solutions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.**“GFI Software offers integrated tools, such as GFI LanGuard, which can automate update processes and thus significantly improve the security of corporate networks.” The [GFI LanGuard](https://www.gfi.com/products-and-solutions/network-security-solutions/gfi-languard) solution, which is also part of the [GFI Unlimited](http://www.gfi-unlimited.cz/) licensing model, covers comprehensive requirements for identifying and eliminating vulnerabilities, including network and software auditing, vulnerability scanning on computers and mobile devices, and automated update management for Windows, Mac OS and Linux. The solution can provide a complete picture of all installed applications, an overview of network hardware including mobile devices connecting to Exchange servers, the status of security applications (antivirus, antispam, firewalls, etc.), an overview of open ports, and existing shares and services running on machines on the network. Article author: ZEBR.ai editorial team Read on ## More related articles [All articles](https://zebr.ai/en/blog) Contact ## Do you need a solution for yourself or for your client? Tell us which service you are looking into, and a specialist in that area will get back to you directly. [(704) 745-4214](tel:+17047454214)\ --- - Source: - Site overview for AI agents: