Patch management is the process of identifying, testing, implementing, and monitoring code changes to improve efficiency. Administrators must maintain knowledge of all code changes, ensure correct installation, and run tests to prevent unforeseen issues. It is a common responsibility for system administrators and can be used for temporary workarounds or change management.
Patch management is a process within the broader function of overall systems management. The idea behind patch management is built around proper methods for identifying and testing various types of code changes, with the goal of making programming code work with a greater degree of efficiency. Patch management also extends to actually implementing the code changes and monitoring the function of the code to identify any unforeseen circumstances that did not arise during the testing phase.
Under the broad umbrella of patch management, there are several important functions that are considered part of this ongoing process. First, an administrator dedicated to patch management is expected to maintain a working knowledge of all code changes or patches applied to a specific system. This is considered essential, as each new modification of existing code can create a problem with a patch applied to the system six months or a year earlier.
The administrator who engages in patch management must also ensure that the patch installation is performed correctly. Inserting new code into a string in the wrong place can lead to a number of problems. For this reason, the administrator will do everything possible to ensure that code changes are made at exactly the same point in the sequence that was used in previous test simulations.
As a third common responsibility, the administrator will run various tests even after code changes are complete and the system is considered operational and accessible by end users. This protection is to ensure that nothing appears during live use and also does not appear during simulations performed prior to changing the actual code installation. Therefore, patch management includes responsibilities ranging from evaluating potential code changes to constantly monitoring how well those changes are working in a real-time environment.
Patch management is not an uncommon responsibility for system administrators. Many companies require some degree of customization in the software they use for various functions. In some cases, patches are created that allow independent systems to interact with each other to some extent. The patch can be a workaround that resolves a situation that is temporary and will not be needed after a specified period of time. In other cases, patch management can be an important change management process. Interim patches can allow a company to function with existing software and hardware until a more integrated system can be purchased and installed and allows for a wider range of required applications.
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