A patch is a set of changes to a computer program or its supporting data designed to update, fix, or improve it. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, with such patches usually being called bugfixes or bug fixes.

Patch Management is the process of managing a network of computers by regularly performing patch deployment to keep computers up to date.

In today’s PodChats for FutureCIO, we are joined by Alex Tilley – Head of Intelligence Research for Asia Pacific at Secureworks, to talk about where patch and patch management is evolving.

1.       In your view, why do we need to do software patching? Don’t businesses already pay enough in terms of licenses to expect that the software they buy is 100% in good working order – no bugs?

2.       When a software bug is found, why does the CISO need to be aware of the patch that needs to be applied?

3.       We often hear that patching is sometimes ignored. Why is that? Why do people resist patching known bugs?

4.       How do we ensure that time-critical patches are performed? Who’s in charge here?

5.       One of the emerging technologies of the three years is intelligent automation. Can intelligent automation be applied to patching?

6.       What are the challenges CIOs/CISOs must address for patching to become a standard practice if it isn’t already? Perhaps draw lessons from the past?

7.       What would be a new year’s resolution to patching that takes into consideration the current environment we are in – pandemic, remote work, etc?