While you’re on your computer or cellphone, you get a notification that you need to install and update and restart your device. What do you do? Probably click “remind me tomorrow,” even though you’ll probably do the same thing again the next time. Sound familiar?
Even though these updates can be annoying and inconveniently timed, they apply crucial security patches to your device to protect your information. It’s vital to understand the importance of managing your device through software updates and patches to make sure your device is secure.
What Is the Difference Between an Update and Patch?
Most people aren’t familiar with the difference between an update and a security patch, but that’s what we’re here to teach you. Software updates and security patches are two separate concepts that go hand in hand. Though they are similar to each other, they’re designed to accomplish different tasks.
What Is an Update?
Software developers design updates as a way to fine-tune devices through small, frequent improvements. Software updates accomplish many different tasks but most commonly fix performance bugs and incorporate new features into a program. If you, like many people, postpone these updates to avoid interruptions, you are not getting the advantages of these improvements.
What Is a Security Patch?
Patches are a specific type of update that address cybersecurity issues rather than focusing on software performance or feature improvements. Software providers determine what patches to release by detecting system vulnerabilities and minimizing the risk of cyberattacks by implementing new safeguards to enhance the software’s security.
With the growing prominence of cybercrime, patching computers is becoming more necessary than ever. Regular patches provide continuous responses to threats and prevent unauthorized parties from accessing private data.
Importance of Updates and Patches
It is best to update your computer software as needed and allow patches to make changes to your device (resist the “remind me tomorrow” button). Enabling your computer or cellphone to make frequent updates may seem tedious in the moment, but it comes with big benefits, some of which include:
Minimizing the risk of cyberattacks. When patches add cybersecurity measures to your device, they significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks.
Protecting private data. If you or your organization has private information on your devices, such as intellectual property or other personal data, patches will safeguard it from unauthorized parties, preventing losses and other severe consequences to your business.
Preventing the spread of corruption. Cyberthreats can spread from one user’s device to a whole network of devices without warning. With updates and patches, you can protect your business’s entire network from corruption.
Improving functionality. When you permit software updates, you allow your device to eliminate bugs and glitches, ultimately improving overall functionality.
Promoting productivity. Better system operation and fewer bugs means higher productivity in the office.
Enhance Your Cybersecurity With Kinetix
Allowing software updates and patches is an excellent way to keep your devices operating working as best they can while making sure you’re minimizing potential cyberthreats. However, there are even more effective measures you can take to protect your business’s data from cyberattacks.
At Kinetix, we offer best-in-breed cybersecurity tools that provide users with a simple and cost-effective way to eliminate cyberthreats. With our tailor-made products, you can prevent data breaches and losses using our efficient Security Essentials bundle.
Fill out a form for more information on our solutions today.
