Automated Patching
Automated patching is a DevOps and IT operations practice that involves using tools and scripts to automatically apply software updates, security patches, and bug fixes to systems, applications, or infrastructure without manual intervention. It ensures that systems remain up-to-date, secure, and compliant by scheduling and executing patch deployments across environments like servers, containers, or cloud instances. This reduces human error, minimizes downtime, and helps maintain operational stability in production systems.
Developers and operations teams should implement automated patching to enhance security by quickly addressing vulnerabilities, improve reliability by preventing outdated software issues, and reduce operational overhead in large-scale or dynamic environments. It is particularly critical in cloud-native architectures, containerized deployments, and CI/CD pipelines where manual patching is impractical, and in regulated industries requiring compliance with security standards like PCI-DSS or HIPAA.