Software Update Management: Challenges and Benefits
Patch Management ConsultingPatch management is an essential and complicated task. Timely and properly managed updating maximizes cybersecurity, compliance, uptime, and functionality. Haphazard patch management can result in security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, slow or inconsistent responsiveness, unnecessary downtime, or unavailability of important functions. Patching involves more than periodic updates of operating systems and applications for servers and endpoints. Firmware patches can be a vital for peripherals like printers and scanners, network appliances such as routers and wireless access points, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices such as alarms and robotics.

Software Update Management Experts

Progent's Patch Management programs can cover IoT devices such as alarms and health monitors

The patching process can present a number of challenges that can differ from one environment to the next. Assets that may require patching can be located on-premises, in the cloud, on the road, or in the homes of remote workers. Networks may support a mix of Windows, Linux, Apple, and Google operating systems and applications. Some updates can be installed automatically and at scale using tools like Microsoft Configuration Manager, Intune, or Azure Update. Others must be performed manually. Updating for vital systems must be scheduled to avoid business interruption. In some mission-critical systems, updates must be thoroughly validated prior to being applied to production.

Progent's managed services for patch management offer organizations of all sizes a flexible and cost-effective option for assessing, validating, scheduling, applying, and tracking updates to your ever-evolving IT network. In addition to optimizing the security and functionality of your network, Progent's patch management offerings free up time for your IT team to focus on strategic initiatives and tasks that return maximum business advantage to your network.

Patch Management Consultants

Patch management is a closed-loop process central to your risk management strategy

Progent's Patch Management Processes
Progent provides standard and custom service packages for software and firmware patching. These managed services allow you to offload a portion or all of your company's patch management tasks to a network support firm with over 20 years of background delivering solution design, implementation, and support to businesses of all sizes worldwide. Progent operates in close conjunction with your IT managers to determine the scope of the managed services you need. Programs available from Progent for patch include:

  • Inventory network assets: This can include business-critical platforms such as Microsoft Exchange and SQL, web-facing physical and virtual servers, workstations and mobile endpoints, security appliances like VPN controllers, and network infrastructure appliances such as routers and Wi-Fi access points.
  • Select resources to be managed: Progent's experts will work with you to identify which of your network resources you choose for ongoing patch management services. Progent offers a variety of standard programs that target specific types of assets and Progent can also create custom service programs to accommodate your particular needs.
  • Implement patch management tools: Progent is experienced with a wide selection of patch installation tools and patch inventory databases. Examples of tools include Azure Update Management for cloud-based assets, Microsoft Configuration Manager for on-premises assets, Microsoft Intune for mobile devices, IT Glue for IT asset documentation, plus a selection of modern anti-virus products. Together, these products enable you to automate and monitor updates for IT assets residing in cloud environments, on-premises, on the road, at district offices, and in the houses of at-home workers.
  • Analyze patch currency and carry out risk analysis of uninstalled patches: Generally, environments with up-to-date patching are more protected and dependable than those with inconsistent patching. However, occasionally patches are rushed into production and carry the potential to disrupt vital business operations by causing compatibility problems, system instability, or unfamiliar alterations to user experiences. Progent can assist clients to determine which patches carry a risk to your organization's IT environment, or which patches should be assigned a high priority because they defend against an imminent cybersecurity attack. Progent's background with patch management services can assist you to maintain a safe network without sacrificing productivity.
  • Develop a software update management service program: Progent's group of experts can assist in designing and administering a patch management service program that aligns with your particular needs. Progent offers standard and custom patch management service programs and can help with programmatic as well as manual updating. Progent can manage mission-critical assets only, all patchable resources, or somewhere in between.
  • Patch testing: Even the biggest networks such as Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure have experienced widespread outages that resulted from updates that were not sufficiently tested prior to being rolled out to production environments. For organizations with zero tolerance for service disruption, Progent can assist to develop pilot environments that allow you to make sure that the latest updates will not introduce reliability problems for your network.
  • Rank and schedule patches: Progent can help you to determine which updates should be performed immediately and which can be postponed so as to minimize service interruption. Some worldwide regulatory standards, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, mandate that the most critical cybersecurity patches be installed inside a specified time period.
  • Document update history and status: Progent's regular update management service programs include creating a centralized knowledge base for following the patch level of every monitored asset. This streamlines the job of finding where patches can be found and specifies patch release dates, release notes, and additional useful data needed for a comprehensive update management solution.
  • Fix update failures: Patches to some key resources such as an OS or application server can result in unforeseen compatibility or reliability problems, especially with outdated or custom applications or older devices. Progent has the breadth of experience to help you to understand and resolve issues that may crop up as a result of deploying a patch.
Software Update Management for Network Devices from Cisco and Other Providers
Software and firmware patches are regularly released for network infrastructure appliances such as firewalls, routers, switches, and Wi-Fi APs. These updates usually are intended to harden cybersecurity, enhance features, or correct reliability problems. Managing patches for these network infrastructure devices can be a challenge, particularly in mixed-vendor environments and networks that include a mixture of on-premises datacenters, at-home workers, branch offices, and cloud-hosted resources. In addition to tracking and accessing the latest updates, IT managers must ensure that infrastructure devices have enough disk storage and that updates are loaded cleanly and work properly.

Progent has delivered high-end assistance for Cisco infrastructure appliances for over two decades and also can provide technical guidance for devices from other leading network companies including Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and WatchGuard. Progent's services for software update management can assist your organization to expand your software update solution to include infrastructure appliances as well as physical and virtual servers, desktop and mobile endpoints, applications, and Internet-of-Things devices.

Software Update Management Services for Infrastructure Appliances

Progent can provide software update management support for network appliances from Cisco and other leading vendors

Progent's Regular and Custom Patch Management Services
Progent provides a variety of standard software update management plans that include backup services, extensive reporting, and documentation. Cost is determined by the class and quantity of devices enrolled. Additional services such as building systems for pre-installation software update testing are invoiced at time and material rates. Specialized packages are also offered and typically handle unusual hardware and/or apps.

PROACTIVE Server Patch Management Services

On Prem or Private Cloud Server: Microsoft Azure Cloud-hosted Servers Patch Management:
  • Compliance scan of Windows and Linux servers
  • Update compliance evaluation report for enrolled machines
  • Scheduled Patching and Preventative Maintenance
  • License & Asset reporting and management
  • Managed Anti-Virus - Current AV system
  • Begin server backup once scanned
  • Additional Support Invoiced at time and material Rates
  • IT Glue access control and resources documentation
On Premises or Virtual Workstation:
  • ProSight Availability Monitoring
  • Operating System & 3rd Party Patch Management
  • Scheduled Patching and Maintenance Maintenance
  • Managed Anti-Virus - current AV system
  • Hosted Anti-Spam - Spam Hero
  • Additional Support Invoiced at time and material Rates
  • IT Glue access management and asset documentation
BASIC Server Patch Management

Managed Patch both Physical and Virtual Servers: On Premises or Virtual Workstation Patch Management: Server or Workstation Security SLA - Add on service

Security Critical Patches - completed within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

PROACTIVE Network Device Patching

Internet Facing Hardware - Managed Devices (Security appliances, firewalls, routers): Internal Network Hardware - Managed devices (wireless controllers, Wi-Fi access points, switches): Network Device Security SLA - Add-on service

Security Critical Patches - applied within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

Original Patching Process Additional Costs:
First-time updating will have an additional cost for each server or network item to provide for review and documentation of current update level as well as any other documentation required for effectively carrying out the patching services as described above. If many patches are needed that require additional work for the initial patching, Progent will provide any cost estimates beyond the normal update cost.

Other Services Available:

Download the Software Update Managed Services Datasheet
To download a datasheet about the features of Progent Patch Management Services, click:
Progent Patch Management Services Datasheet. (PDF - 330 KB)

Contact a Progent Expert about Software/Firmware Update Management Solutions
To learn additional information about Progent's software/firmware update management offerings, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.



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