The success of a patch management solution rests on a careful selection of patch management tools and software to use in conjunction with a patch management spreadsheet. No software or patch management tool can be considered effective if it is not used in conjunction with a good patch management spreadsheet.
Every organization must assess its patching and maintenance requirements, making use of various software, including common software like Microsoft Excel. The goals of these assessments include: identifying the gaps in the organization’s patching programs; and determining how and where to deploy the patches, as well as when and how often. This analysis will also help in making certain the correct patches are deployed for the most suitable applications.
Patch Management Tips – Excel
The effective use of a patch management spreadsheet is necessary for ensuring the timely deployment of patches to correct critical vulnerabilities and, possibly, for reducing the expense of deploying a patch. While it is possible to do it manually, and the initial project cost is considerable, the cumulative cost of the project can become costly, in the sense that once the costs are paid, the re-procurement costs will continue to mount up.
The rapid implementation of a patch management spreadsheet makes it all the more necessary to make certain the tools and applications utilized are of high quality. The former means that the end user does not have to waste time manually adding applications to the patch list. The latter means that there is an adequate range of application software available to the user.
A patch management spreadsheet can be used for allocating the required application software and for making certain that the patch software within a patch management system is adequately deployed for allocating the organization’s needs. With this in mind, the spreadsheet must be made use of properly.
Since the details of the assessment and deployment of the application software and patches are found on the spreadsheet, the process of implementing a patch management system involves a lot of planning. The creation of the spreadsheet is only the first step. There must be a solid plan to implement the system.
Users must be clearly identified who will deploy the patches, as well as the exact time frame within which the patches will be used. This should be done so that different users will not have the same timescale.
A careful and well-defined plan must also be followed to implement a patch management system. The patch management system must be carefully implemented, and the roles and responsibilities must be clearly defined. Details of the deployment process should be documented, and a manual of the same should be made.
It is important that the database be carefully maintained, and that the patching application data be properly tracked. Information relating to deployment of applications should be placed in the appropriate folders, and the assigned user must be given clear instructions on which folders to look for specific applications.
The deployment of a patch management system is only one aspect of implementing a good patch management system. It is also crucial that the users are properly trained to properly use the software.
By training the users with respect to the application software and the way it is used, the organization is better able to ensure the proper use of the software and is able to apply the data from the spreadsheet accurately. Another aspect is to train the employees on how to properly use the application software, so that all the employees are aware of the importance of applying the data properly from the spreadsheet.
The right combination of the spreadsheet and the patch management system is what will determine the success of the patch management solution. Having the right tools and the right system will help organizations to keep their information up to date. SEE ALSO : password manager spreadsheet
