Patch management often flies under the radar, but it plays a critical role in protecting your business from cyber threats, minimizing downtime, and meeting compliance requirements. If your organization doesn't have a controlled process in place, you may be more vulnerable than you realize.
Nathan Whittacre, Director of Technology Services at Stimulus Technologies, shares clear and practical insights on how businesses should be handling patch management—and the real risks of getting it wrong.
What Is Patch Management?
Patch management is the process of updating software, operating systems, and hardware to the latest versions in order to correct security flaws, fix bugs, and improve system stability. It ensures your technology remains secure, functional, and aligned with vendor standards.
In today’s threat landscape, neglecting to patch even one device can create a vulnerability that cybercriminals are ready to exploit.
Why Business Owners Should Take This Seriously
For many small to mid-sized companies, IT resources are limited. Often, there is no dedicated team overseeing updates, and automatic updates are assumed to be sufficient.
That assumption is risky.
In managed environments, automatic updates are disabled because they can introduce instability or conflict with existing software. Without a plan in place, updates can cause more harm than good.
The consequences of poor patch management include:
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Security breaches due to known vulnerabilities remaining unpatched
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Compliance violations in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or legal
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Application downtime when critical software updates are not coordinated
One urgent example: Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 on October 14. After that date, machines running Windows 10 will no longer receive free security updates, increasing their exposure to cyber threats.
How to Approach Patching Strategically
Effective patch management requires more than simply clicking “update.” It involves evaluating each patch for security impact, testing for compatibility, and planning deployment carefully.
Here is the approach used at Stimulus Technologies:
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Critical security patches are rolled out immediately to address vulnerabilities.
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Feature updates (which introduce new capabilities or design changes) are delayed for approximately 30 days to allow time for early issues to be resolved.
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Mac system updates, including macOS 26, are also delayed by about a month to avoid complications with third-party applications.
This method ensures security is not compromised, while avoiding unnecessary disruptions to daily operations.
Coordinating with Vendors and Internal Teams
Line-of-business applications require special attention. Whether you’re running QuickBooks Desktop or industry-specific tools, applying a patch without consulting the vendor can lead to broken integrations or system errors.
To mitigate this risk:
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Monitor vendor communications for patch announcements
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Confirm compatibility before deploying updates
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Coordinate version control across all users to avoid mismatches
In some cases, rolling back a patch may be necessary. That’s why having a reliable backup and recovery solution is also a key component of a comprehensive patch management process.
Compliance Considerations
Many regulatory frameworks require businesses to document and implement a patch management policy. Without this, your organization may be flagged during audits or risk non-compliance penalties.
Keeping systems fully patched demonstrates that your business takes data security and operational integrity seriously.
Action Steps for Business Leaders
Nathan offers the following recommendations to maintain a strong and secure IT environment:
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Disable automatic updates in favor of a scheduled and controlled patching process.
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Coordinate with vendors before updating line-of-business applications.
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Train employees to avoid initiating unauthorized updates.
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Keep system backups current to ensure rollback is possible if issues occur.
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Update all Windows 10 systems before Microsoft’s support ends on October 14.
Learn More
For more insights on how patch management fits into your overall IT strategy, listen to the full podcast episode featuring Nathan Whittacre.
Listen now on Spotify (or your favorite podcast platform)
Get Proactive with Your Patch Management
Stimulus Technologies helps businesses implement proactive, controlled, and fully managed patching strategies. We work directly with your team and your vendors to ensure updates happen securely and without disruption.
Schedule a discovery call today to learn how we can support your IT infrastructure and improve your overall security posture.
