What does patch management involve?

Patch management is a critical process in cybersecurity that involves acquiring, testing, and installing patches in order to address vulnerabilities in software and systems. This practice is essential because software vulnerabilities can be exploited by attackers, leading to security breaches, data loss, or other detrimental outcomes for an organization.

By acquiring patches, an organization ensures it has the latest updates released by software vendors that may fix known security vulnerabilities or other bugs. Testing these patches is vital to verify that they do not disrupt existing system functionalities or compatibility with other software. Once tested and deemed reliable, the installation of patches helps mitigate the risks associated with vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening the overall security posture of the organization.

The other options do not encapsulate the essence of patch management. Removing old software does not inherently address vulnerabilities within currently used software. User training on software issues is valuable but falls under a different scope of cybersecurity practices focused on awareness and behavior. Documenting software purchase records pertains to asset management rather than the proactive measures taken to keep software secure and updated against threats.