Patch Management allows you to:
- Remotely deploy operating system updates for Windows based machines
- View dashboard statistics for breakdowns of available updates for endpoint machines
- Create policies to automatically apply updates to groups of tagged endpoints at scheduled times
- Identify endpoints which contain vulnerabilities and need to be patched
What is Patch Management?
Patch management is the process that helps acquire, test and install multiple patches (code changes) on existing applications and software tools on a computer, enabling systems to stay updated on existing patches and determining which patches are the appropriate ones. Managing patches thus becomes easy and simple.
Patch Management is mostly done by software companies as part of their internal efforts to fix problems with the different versions of software programs and also to help analyze existing software programs and detect any potential lack of security features or other upgrades.
Software patches help fix those problems that exist and are noticed only after the software's initial release. Patches mostly concern security while there are some patches that concern the specific functionality of programs as well.
The way patches are delivered and applied has undergone a drastic change over the course of years. Earlier, during the days of the traditional fee-licensing software delivery, patches were delivered on external media as stand-alone code modules which would then be added to an already installed software program. But today, in the age of web-delivered systems and cloud-hosting models, it's all different. Patches today can be applied to software programs over the global IP network; they no longer have to be sent on external media. This is the age of automatic addition of software patches and upgrades.
A Patch Management software would scan systems and find out if further patches are needed, thereby helping companies ensure if the software programs they are using have all that's needed for full-fledged functioning.
Implement Patch Management with these 8 Easy Steps:
Comodo ONE performs automatic discovery of Windows systems (using Active Directory) to deliver intelligence that gives you a real-time view of your network:
- Microsoft
- Microsoft Security Bulletin
- Application vendors
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system
- Automated crawler systems
- And more
Comodo ONE performs automatic discovery of Windows systems (using Active Directory) to deliver intelligence that gives you a real-time view of your network:
- Runs and collects the discovery over all managed endpoints
- Scans networks for installed and missing security patches
- Detects vulnerabilities
In-built categorization allows you to prioritize your patch deployments based on details like severity, vendor or type.
Critical patches and security patches can be automated and scheduled to run daily right out-of-the-box whereas, all other patches could be scheduled for the regular periodic maintenance window.
Comodo ONE™ Platform enables you to track all changes done through your endpoint patch policies and the latest status of your network. Administrators can generate reports to track the applied patches as well as the missing patches and check the patch procedure details to see the successful operations as well as any failed deployment attempts.
The patches are deployed based on the delta between endpoint and latest patch intelligence gathered. When configured on-demand or by policy, the agent applies the relevant updates and patches to create an efficient and fast process. The status of deployment is then updated in real-time in Comodo ONE.
The installation process can be scheduled or triggered on-demand based on existing procedure or selected patches and devices such as:
- Automated patch deployment
- Schedule by time, computer, group or user-defined collections of computers
- Simultaneously deploy all required patches across machines
- Combine your rollout strategy and policy enforcement in one tool
- Maximize uptime by controlling schedules and reboot scenarios
Every single application can be tracked and patched over your network in real-time and it provides:
- Visibility into global patch inventory with each and every device that is applicable and their relevant status (eg: already deployed, in deployment or missing)
- Research automation freeing you from the cumbersome process
- Identification of which patches are installed and when
- Sophisticated reports about status and the general assessment of your network
Comodo ONE Platform enables you to stay compliant on your entire network
- Schedule the deployment of your patches on any configuration you prefer and Comodo ONE will deliver them precisely on schedule
- Maintains consistency and compliance across all your devices and software
- Monitors and maintains patch compliance for the entire enterprise
Patches can be deployed out-of-the-box or a workflow can be applied to validate them before auto installation. You can run tests on desired systems first in order to approve either single or bulk patches. Once satisfied you can mark them as approved or unapproved.
Your automation policies can deploy all patches matching the criteria you defined or only the approved patches matching the criteria you defined per policy.
Although Comodo does extensive and deep testing, we also empower our users to perform their own tests.
Based in the United Kingdom, XL Pro PC has grown from a builder of custom PC’s back in 2008, to a full managed services provider servicing the IT needs of consumers and small businesses across Halifax and West Yorkshire. With a desire to always keep IT costs in check, XL Pro recently registered for the free Comodo One MSP IT management platform while looking for a stable RMM solution to better service its customer base. "Moving over to a new solution for remote monitoring and management was a vital step for our company's growth but it was also a process we needed to implement thoughtfully with a view to a long term strategy that works for us and our clients. It's important for managed services organizations like ours to keep costs down while also ensuring performance is never sacrificed. The money we are saving on licensing fees and other service costs through the Comodo One MSP allows us to hire more people and better compete for business. Comodo One MSP is an excellent solution that meets our RMM needs. The fact that there are additional features being added to the platform in the months to come allows us to focus on continued growth while also solidifying the customer relationships we have worked so hard to build.
Mr. Michel Engelbarts, CEO, Marly Computers vof
Based in the United Kingdom, XL Pro PC has grown from a builder of custom PC’s back in 2008, to a full managed services provider servicing the IT needs of consumers and small businesses across Halifax and West Yorkshire. With a desire to always keep IT costs in check, XL Pro recently registered for the free Comodo One MSP IT management platform while looking for a stable RMM solution to better service its customer base. "Moving over to a new solution for remote monitoring and management was a vital step for our company's growth but it was also a process we needed to implement thoughtfully with a view to a long term strategy that works for us and our clients. It's important for managed services organizations like ours to keep costs down while also ensuring performance is never sacrificed. The money we are saving on licensing fees and other service costs through the Comodo One MSP allows us to hire more people and better compete for business. Comodo One MSP is an excellent solution that meets our RMM needs. The fact that there are additional features being added to the platform in the months to come allows us to focus on continued growth while also solidifying the customer relationships we have worked so hard to build.
Mr. Matt Helliwell, Company Director, XL Pro PC (http://www.xlpropc.co.uk/site/)
Based in Hammersmith, London, 76BITS designs, delivers and maintains IT solutions for customers across South East England, as well as Finland and Thailand. For nearly 20 years, 76BITS has been supporting businesses and helping them make the most of available technology to deliver increased performance, efficiency and reliability - from network design to maintenance and upgrades. "We are a small managed service provider in the U.K. that focuses on serving our customers with the very best IT experience possible - be that computer repairs, maintenance or security. We are currently taking full advantage of the remote management and monitoring module of Comodo One, which enables us to monitor our customers and service them faster. By having access to a proven, free service management tool like Comodo One, we can grow our business by automating tasks without sacrificing service or performance.
Mr. Mikael Berglund, CEO, 76BITS
Convey2Web, LLC is a managed services provider based in Middletown, Delaware serving the IT needs of the community for the past 10 years. Convey2Web is an end-to-end provider of IT services including on-site and off premise monitoring, as well as web hosting, website development and website optimization. As a Comodo digital certificate customer, Convey2Web recently engaged with Comodo on its new Comodo One management platform.
"We needed to put a new remote management and monitoring tool in place – and the Comodo One platform came out as exactly the right time for us, just as we were evaluating other tools. We’ve already started rolling out the free Comodo RMM and Comodo Patch Management features to some of our customers, and it is already making a world of difference for our company. Because this platform was built by MSPs for MSPs, Comodo One is giving us better utilization of our internal resources, freeing up time to focus on additional customer challenges and solve them quickly –and, we’re saving money because it is all free. We can now move our break fix customers to a managed services model that will generate new revenue streams for us. We look forward to a very long relationship with Comodo and helping them to continue to make Comodo One a success for all."
Mr. Robert Morton, President, Convey2Web, LLC
Answers to frequently-asked questions about Comodo ONE Patch Management
Technicians can run periodic Network Assessment scans at individual sites and take the time to review specific needs on a location by location (or client) basis.
Technicians can use the XP Migration Readiness Report to quickly identify XP machines with the information they need to determine whether the OS and machine should be upgraded or replaced.
Generate a professional IT SWOT analysis from assessments with these helpful tools:
- IT Checklists ensure your techs follow your standard IT assessment procedures
- Site Interview guidelines help techs follow best practices with a prescribed series of questions to ask during IT assessments
- Network Surveys facilitate manual checks or inspections to supplement automated assessments
Comodo One Network Assessment Tool creates a list of findings and highlights issues and anomalies. It recommends possible solutions that could become new projects.
- Simply run a report to identify a billable project with your existing clients and prospects
Comodo One Network Assessment Tool creates a list of findings and highlights issues and anomalies. It recommends possible solutions that could become new projects.
- Simply run a report to identify a billable project with your existing clients and prospects
Did you find this article about Patch Management helpful?