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In 2024, 612,000 UK businesses (approximately 43% of all businesses) reported a cyberattack. Yet only 22% of businesses have incident response plans in place. This gap between threat reality and preparedness is exactly why vulnerability and patch management are so important.
Key takeaways
- Vulnerability and patch management work best together – one identifies security weaknesses, the other fixes them before attackers can exploit them.
- Neglecting updates and scans can lead to data breaches, downtime, and compliance risks that damage your business and reputation.
- A consistent, integrated approach – with regular scans, timely patching, and clear tracking – builds stronger, long-term cyber resilience.
What is vulnerability management?
Vulnerability management is a systematic approach to finding and fixing security weaknesses before hackers can exploit them.
The process entails:
- Scanning your systems to identify potential vulnerabilities
- Assessing the risks to understand which problems need immediate attention
- Prioritising fixes based on severity and business impact
- Remediating issues through patches, configuration changes, or other solutions
It's not a one-time task – vulnerability management is an ongoing cycle that keeps your defences strong.
What is patch management?
Patch management is the process of keeping your software up to date. When software developers discover security flaws, they release patches to fix them. Your job is to install these patches quickly and systematically.
A solid patch management process includes:
- Monitoring for new patches across software, firmware, and drivers
- Testing updates to ensure they won't break your systems
- Installing patches across relevant devices
- Verifying that patches are installed correctly
Why vulnerability and patch management work hand in hand
Vulnerability and patch management aren't competing approaches – they're complementary strategies that work best together.
Vulnerability management helps you understand your risk landscape. It highlights which problems need immediate attention.
Patch management provides one of the most important tools for fixing those vulnerabilities. When your vulnerability scan identifies an outdated piece of software with known security flaws, patch management ensures you can quickly install the fix.
Vulnerability management vs patch management
The consequences of inaction
Failing to stay on top of vulnerability and patch management leaves your systems – and your business – open to serious risks.
Data breaches
Unpatched vulnerabilities give attackers easy access to your systems. Once inside, they can steal customer data, financial information, or intellectual property. Beyond the immediate financial cost, a breach can cause lasting damage to your reputation and client confidence.
Business disruption
Cyber incidents can bring operations to a halt. In sectors like manufacturing or logistics, downtime can delay production, disrupt supply chains, and result in significant financial losses. Even brief interruptions can have wide-reaching effects.
Compliance failures
Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, businesses must take reasonable steps to protect personal data. Failing to patch known vulnerabilities can be seen as negligence, leading to investigations, fines, and legal proceedings.
Did you know?
In late August 2025, Jaguar Land Rover was hit by a major cyber attack that forced it to halt production at its UK factories for over a month, costing an estimated £50 million per week in lost output
Ransomware attacks
Outdated software is a common target for ransomware. Attackers exploit known flaws to encrypt business-critical data and demand payment for its release.
How to build an integrated patch and vulnerability management strategy
1. Schedule scans before installing patches
Run vulnerability scans immediately before your monthly patch deployment windows.
2. Create a severity-based timeline
- Critical vulnerabilities: patch within 72 hours
- High-risk issues: patch within 2 weeks
- Medium/low-risk: follow a monthly cycle
3. Expedite high-impact patches
Prioritise testing for patches that fix vulnerabilities in your most-used software.
4. Use one central tracking system
Document all vulnerability discoveries and patch deployments in a single location.
5. Test before you deploy
Always test critical patches in a safe environment first.
6. Focus on internet-facing systems
Scan and patch public-facing websites and applications.
7. Include mobile devices
Add smartphones and tablets to your regular scanning and patching schedule.
8. Review and adjust monthly
Assess what's working and refine your process based on real results.
Best practices
Start with what you've got
You can't secure what you don't know about. Create a comprehensive inventory of all your devices, software, and systems.
Scan regularly
Run vulnerability scans at least monthly, but don't just scan everything at random. Focus on internet-facing systems and critical business applications first. These are your highest-risk areas.
Think like a hacker
Not all vulnerabilities are created equal. A critical flaw in your public-facing website poses more immediate risk than a minor issue in standalone software. Use vulnerability scoring systems to prioritise your efforts.
Try and test
Always test patches in a non-critical environment first. Yes, it takes longer, but it's better than accidentally breaking your main systems during a busy period.
Don't forget mobile devices
Cybercriminals increasingly target mobile devices, and they're often the weakest link in your security chain. Include smartphones and tablets in your vulnerability and patch management processes.
Building sustainable security practices
Effective vulnerability and patch management focuses on consistent improvement rather than perfect implementation.
Cyber Essentials certification provides an excellent framework for developing essential security processes, while tools like CyberSmart Patch can make patching simpler and more reliable.
From risk to resilience
The gap between cyber threats and business preparedness is real, but vulnerability and patch management bridge that divide. Together, they create a systematic defence that identifies risks and fixes them before attackers can exploit them.
Frequently asked questions
Vulnerability management identifies and assesses security weaknesses across your systems, while patch management is the process of applying updates or fixes to software to address those vulnerabilities.
At least once a month. However, higher-risk areas such as internet-facing systems and critical business applications should be scanned more frequently to catch new vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
Testing ensures that patches don’t disrupt existing systems or cause unexpected downtime. Applying a patch without testing can accidentally break critical business applications, so a safe testing environment is essential..
Implement a comprehensive asset inventory to track all devices connected to your network. Use mobile device management solutions to enforce patching policies across smartphones and tablets, ensuring they receive timely updates.