Patch Management for Small Businesses

Unpatched software is one of the most common ways attackers get in. A known vulnerability in Windows, Office, or a browser can be exploited within days of disclosure.

Patch management means:

- Testing updates before deploying them to production

- Prioritizing critical security patches over feature updates

- Scheduling reboots outside business hours

- Verifying that patches installed successfully

- Rolling back when an update breaks a line-of-business application

Automatic updates sound easy, but they can break specialized software or reboot servers at the wrong time. A patch management process balances security with stability — you stay protected without surprise downtime.

If your updates are still "install when prompted," it's time for a more disciplined approach.