When you hear about cyberattacks that shut down entire companies in a matter of hours, the first thing that comes to mind is movie-style hackers or viruses that are impossible to stop. But the truth is that often the problem is much simpler (and, at the same time, more alarming): someone failed to apply a patch in time or detect a vulnerability before the attackers did.
Although they are sometimes used interchangeably, patch management and vulnerability management are not the same thing. They are different processes, but they go hand in hand and are equally important if you want to keep your systems secure, running smoothly, and always up to date. Thinking that updating your software from time to time or doing an occasional scan is enough can leave you with more security holes than you realize.
In this article, we will explain what each one does, how they differ, and why it is essential that they work together.
What is patch management?
If you haven't read our article on patch management yet, don't worry. Here's a quick summary of the essentials so you don't miss a thing.
Patch management basically consists of ensuring that all operating systems and applications on your devices (such as computers, laptops, or servers) are always up to date. It is the process of finding, testing, and installing updates (or patches) that fix bugs, improve performance, or plug security holes.
In other words, it's about keeping your equipment secure, stable, and working as it should. Because, let's face it, no one wants an outdated system that becomes the weak link in the entire network.
Why is it so important?
Because when you don't apply patches, your devices are exposed. It's that simple. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for flaws in systems to exploit. And often those flaws already have a solution... but if you don't apply it, it's like leaving the door open.
Neglecting patches can have very serious consequences: from malware and ransomware to data breaches that can cost you money, time, and reputation. That's why having a good patch management strategy isn't optional: it's a necessity.
What is vulnerability management?
Vulnerability management goes one step further. It's not just about updating, but actively looking for flaws or weaknesses in your infrastructure before someone else finds them (and exploits them).
This process includes identifying, classifying, prioritizing, and fixing vulnerabilities in your systems, applications, devices, or networks. All with a clear goal: to close doors before someone tries to break in.
Why is it important?
Because even with all patches installed, vulnerabilities can still exist (due to misconfigurations, outdated software, or human error). And if you don't detect them in time, they can become the perfect entry point for an attack.
With good vulnerability management, you can discover hidden flaws, analyze them according to their severity, and decide how to act: apply a patch, change a configuration, isolate a system, etc. Ignoring this is playing with fire.
A more recent example? MOVEit Transfer, a widely used tool for secure file transfers, was the target of a massive cyberattack in May 2023. The attackers exploited a critical vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362) that had not been patched in time. The Clop ransomware group took advantage of this breach and stole data from more than 2,000 organizations worldwide, including universities, banks, and public agencies. The damage was so great that even the US government issued special alerts.
This case shows how a single unaddressed vulnerability can turn into a global crisis. And according to the same IBM report (Cost of a Data Breach 2023), it takes organizations an average of 277 days to identify and contain a breach. That's a long time when you consider that cybercriminals usually act within hours.
So yes, leaving a vulnerability open is like leaving a window open in the middle of a storm. Sooner or later, something will get in.
How are patch management and vulnerability management similar?
Although each has its own specific function, patch management and vulnerability management are closely connected and, in practice, work together to protect your systems. Here we explain how they are similar and why they are two key components of any IT security strategy:
- Both are part of your digital shield: They both help strengthen the security of your IT infrastructure. While one focuses on keeping everything up to date (patch management), the other looks for flaws before anyone else finds them (vulnerability management). Together, they form a strong defensive front against threats.
- Their goal is to reduce risk: Both have the same mission: to make life difficult for attackers. One identifies weaknesses, the other fixes them. With this duo, you greatly reduce the chances of a cyberattack succeeding.
- They are key to gaining the trust of your customers and partners: When it comes to cybersecurity, being transparent and proactive is extremely valuable. If you manage patches and vulnerabilities well, you show that you take security seriously, and that builds trust among your users, customers, and partners.
- They help you comply with standards and regulations: There are many security laws and standards (such as ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, or GDPR) that require active vulnerability management and update processes. Having all of this in order not only protects your infrastructure, but also makes it easier for you to pass audits and comply with legal requirements.
- They are in operation all the time: It's not something you do once and forget about. Both patch management and vulnerability management are processes that must be active on an ongoing basis. The environment changes, threats evolve, and that's why you have to constantly monitor and adjust.
- They depend on other IT processes: For them to really work well, they need to be supported by other areas. For example, having a complete and up-to-date inventory (thanks to configuration management) is key to knowing what systems you have, what versions you use, and where there may be risks. Change management also comes into play, helping to implement important patches without affecting the rest of your operations.
- They seek a balance between speed and security: Vulnerabilities must be resolved quickly, but also carefully. Vulnerability management analyzes the level of risk to decide what to address first, while patch management applies those solutions safely, avoiding errors or interruptions. The key is to act with agility, but without improvising.
- Both require good documentation: It is essential to record everything: what was done, when, how, and why. Both scans and patch application must be well documented, whether for compliance with audits, technical decision-making, or simply to continue improving processes.
Read more: Patch Management Policy: What is it and how to implement it?
What is the difference between patch management and vulnerability management?
Although both are extremely important for keeping a company's infrastructure secure, they do not do exactly the same thing. In fact, you could see them as two sides of the same coin:
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On the one hand, vulnerability management is responsible for finding problems.
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On the other hand, patch management focuses on fixing them by applying the necessary updates.
To make it clearer, here are the main differences between the two:
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Scope: Patch management focuses on a very specific task: applying updates or patches that vendors release to fix already detected flaws. Vulnerability management, on the other hand, has a much broader vision. It encompasses the entire process of discovering, assessing, and prioritizing risks that can affect the entire environment: from software and hardware to networks and configurations. It also includes actions to mitigate them if a patch is not yet available.
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What they do exactly: Patch management is responsible for detecting which updates are available, testing that they will not break anything in your system, deploying them in an orderly manner (usually following change processes), and then verifying that they were applied correctly. On the other hand, vulnerability management involves constantly scanning for weaknesses, analyzing them according to how dangerous they are, deciding what to address first and how to fix it, and following up until the risk disappears.
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Reports and metrics: Both generate reports, but with different approaches. Patch management usually reports how many patches were applied, whether it was done on time, and how successful the implementation was. Vulnerability management, on the other hand, provides more strategic reports: what threats exist, which ones are priorities, and what action plan is being followed to resolve them.
How do patch management and vulnerability management work together?
These two practices are like a good team: one detects problems and the other takes care of solving them. When they are well coordinated, they help strengthen your organization's security by closing the doors before attackers can get in.
Now, for this to really work, you need to be clear about what you have in your environment, keep your processes well organized, and have tools that make your job easier. Here's how you can effectively integrate both:
1. Know your environment
Before you can protect something, you need to know what you have and where it is. Having a complete inventory of your devices, applications, networks, and systems is essential. This allows you to perform more accurate scans, prioritize what really matters, and apply patches without flying blind.
2. Scan your infrastructure
Vulnerability management involves constant scanning to detect flaws, outdated software, or risky configurations. These scans help you identify weaknesses that could put your information at risk. Once you detect them, you can take action before they become a real problem.
3. Prioritize the urgent
Not all vulnerabilities are equally dangerous. That's why you first analyze how serious each one is and the impact it could have. Then, patch management takes care of applying the most critical updates as soon as possible. This ensures that the most important issues are addressed first.
4. Automate and avoid errors
Doing all this manually is time-consuming and can lead to errors. That's why automating tasks such as vulnerability detection and patch deployment saves you time and headaches. It also reduces human error and ensures that changes are applied correctly.
5. Coordinate with your IT processes
Patch and vulnerability management must also be aligned with other processes, such as change management or incident management. This allows each patch to be applied in a controlled manner, tested, and minimizes any potential impact on the services you use every day.
6. Continuous improvement
None of this is a one-time thing. Security is an ongoing process. There will always be new threats, updates, and business needs. That's why it's key to review what you're doing, adjust as necessary, and keep improving to stay one step ahead.
When you get patch and vulnerability management working well together, you not only improve your security posture, you also make your operations more efficient, organized, and ready to face any threats that come your way.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, if you truly want to keep your IT infrastructure secure and running smoothly, you need vulnerability management and patch management to work together. One identifies the issues, and the other resolves them. Simple, yet highly effective. If you're seeking a reliable solution for patch management, TecnetProtect Backup is an excellent choice.
It operates with an automated approach that scans your environment, identifies necessary patches, and applies them without requiring constant oversight. The best part? It saves you time, reduces risks, and allows your team to focus on what truly matters.
Additionally, at TecnetOne, we offer a comprehensive vulnerability management service to ensure your entire security landscape is covered, leaving no loose ends. Strengthen, simplify, and enhance the effectiveness of your cybersecurity strategy with our solutions.
