Patch Management
Patch management is a systematic process for identifying, acquiring, testing, and deploying software updates (patches) to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, or improve functionality in systems and applications. It involves maintaining an inventory of software assets, assessing patch criticality, and implementing updates with minimal disruption. This practice is crucial for cybersecurity, compliance, and operational stability in IT environments.
Developers should learn patch management to ensure their applications and infrastructure remain secure against known vulnerabilities, which is essential for preventing data breaches and meeting regulatory requirements like GDPR or HIPAA. It's particularly critical in DevOps and cloud-native environments where rapid deployment cycles require automated, scalable patching processes to maintain system integrity and availability.