Patch Management: Challenges and Solutions
Patch Management ConsultingPatch management is a critical and complex task. Timely and properly managed patching optimizes cybersecurity, compliance, availability, and functionality. Haphazard patch management can result in security gaps, compatibility problems, sluggish or erratic performance, unnecessary downtime, or loss of important features. Patching involves more than periodic updates of operating systems and applications for servers and endpoints. Firmware patches can be essential for peripherals such as printers and scanners, network infrastructure appliances like routers and Wi-Fi access points, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices like sensors and robotics.

Patch Management Consultants

Progent's Patch Management Services can cover IoT devices like sensors and robotics

The patching process can present a range of complications that vary from network to network. Resources that may require patching can be on-premises, in the cloud, mobile, or in the homes of telecommuters. Environments may include a mix of Windows, Linux, Apple, and Google operating systems and applications. Some patches can be installed automatically and at scale using tools like Microsoft Configuration Manager, Intune, or Azure Update Management. Others must be performed manually. Patching for core systems must be scheduled to minimize business disruption. In some mission-critical environments, patches must be carefully tested before being approved for production.

Progent's managed services for patch management provide businesses of any size an affordable end-to-end solution for identifying, acquiring, evaluating, testing, prioritizing, scheduling, applying, and documenting software and firmware updates to your ever-evolving IT network. In addition to optimizing the security and functionality of your IT network, Progent's patch management services free up time for your IT staff to focus on strategic projects and tasks that deliver maximum business value to your network.

Patch Management Experts

Patch management is a closed-loop process central to your risk management strategy

Progent's Patch Management Processes
Progent offers standard and custom service programs for software and firmware patching. These managed services allow you to offload part or all of your patch management tasks to a nationwide IT support firm with over two decades of experience providing network design, deployment, and support to organizations of all sizes worldwide. Progent works closely with your IT managers to define the scope of the services you require. Services available from Progent for patch management include:

  • Discover network assets: This can include business-critical applications like Exchange and SQL, web-facing servers, desktop and mobile endpoints, security appliances such as firewalls, and network infrastructure devices like switches and Wi-Fi access points.
  • Identify assets to be managed: Progent will work with you to determine which of your network assets you wish to select for ongoing patch management services. Progent offers a variety of standard programs that cover specific classes of items and Progent can also create custom programs to meet your unique requirements.
  • Deploy patch management tools: Progent is familiar with a wide selection of patch installation tools and patch tracking databases. Available tools include Azure Update Management for cloud-based assets, Configuration Manager for on-prem assets, Intune for mobile devices, IT Glue for documentation, plus a selection of advanced anti-virus platforms. Together, these tools allow you to automate and track updates for resources located in public and private clouds, on-premises, on the road, at branch offices, and in the residences of at-home workers.
  • Analyze patch status and perform risk analysis of missing patches: Generally, systems with up-to-date patching are more secure and stable than those with sporadic updates. However, some patches have the potential to disrupt essential business operations by introducing compatibility problems, system instability, or unfamiliar and confusing changes to user experiences. Progent can help you determine which patches carry a risk to your organization's IT environment, or which patches should be assigned a high priority because they block a major security threat. Progent's experience with patch management can help you maintain a secure network without compromising productivity.
  • Develop a patch management program: Progent's team of experts can assist in designing and managing a patch management program that fits your business needs and security requirements. Progent offers standard and custom patch management services and can help with automated as well as manual patching. Progent can manage mission-critical assets only, all patchable resources, or anything in between.
  • Patch testing: Even the world's largest networks, including Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure, have experienced major outages caused by updates that were insufficiently tested before being applied to production systems. For organizations with no tolerance for downtime, Progent can help create test environments that allow you to make sure new patches will not cause stability problems for your network.
  • Prioritize and schedule patches: Progent can help you determine which patches should be performed immediately and which can be safely delayed in order to minimize business disruption. Some regulatory standards, such as the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard, require that the most critical security patches be installed within a certain timeframe.
  • Document patch history and status: Progent can create a centralized knowledge base for tracking the patch level of every monitored asset. This makes it easy to find where software, firmware, or driver updates can be downloaded and includes patch release dates, release notes, and other important information required for a comprehensive patch management solution.
  • Troubleshoot patch failures: Patches to some key resources such as operating systems or application servers can cause unforeseen compatibility or stability issues, especially with legacy or home-grown software or older devices. Progent has the breadth of experience to help you quickly identify and mitigate problems that may arise as a result of applying an update.
Patch Management for Network Infrastructure from Cisco and Other Vendors
Software and firmware updates are frequently released for network infrastructure appliances like firewalls, routers, switches, wireless controllers, and Wi-Fi access points. These updates typically harden security, improve feature sets, or mitigate stability and compatibility issues. Managing updates for these infrastructure devices can pose a challenge, especially in mixed-vendor environments and networks that have a combination of on-premises datacenters, at-home workers, branch offices, and cloud-hosted resources. In addition to tracking and acquiring updates, IT managers must make sure network appliances have sufficient disk space and patches are transferred cleanly and work properly.

Progent has provided advanced support for Cisco networking products for more than two decades and also offers expertise with other major vendors including Juniper, Palo Alto Networks, SonicWall, Fortinet, WatchGuard, and CheckPoint. Progent's managed services for patch management can help you consolidate your software update solution to include network appliances along with servers, endpoints, applications software, and IoT devices.

Patch Management Services for Network Infrastructure Appliances

Progent offers patch management expertise for network appliances from Cisco and other leading vendors

Progent's Standard and Custom Patch Management Services
Progent offers a range of standard patch management packages that include backup services, reporting, and documentation. Pricing is based on the type and quantity of devices covered. Additional services including building environments for pre-installation patch testing are billed at time and material rates. Custom packages are also available and typically cover specialized devices and/or applications.

PROACTIVE Server Patch Management

On Prem or Private Cloud Server: Azure Cloud Servers Patch Management:
  • Compliance scan of all Windows and Linux servers
  • Update compliance assessment results for enabled machines
  • Scheduled Patching and Preventative Maintenance
  • License & Asset reporting and management
  • Managed Anti-Virus - Current AV system
  • Initiate Server backup once complete
  • Additional Support Billed at T&M Rates
  • IT Glue access control and asset documentation
On Premises or Virtual Workstation:
  • ProSight Availability Monitoring
  • OS & 3rd Party Patch Management
  • Scheduled Preventative Maintenance
  • Managed Anti-Virus - current AV system
  • Hosted Anti-Spam - Spam Hero
  • Additional Support Billed at T&M Rates
  • IT Glue access control and asset documentation
BASIC Server Patch Management

Managed Patch both Physical and Virtual Servers: On Premises or Virtual Workstation Patch Management: Server or Workstation Security SLA - Add on service

Security Critical Patches - applied within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

PROACTIVE Network Device Patching

Internet Facing Hardware - Managed Devices (Security appliances, firewalls, routers): Internal Network Hardware - Managed devices (wireless controllers, Wi-Fi access points, switches): Network Device Security SLA - Add on service

Security Critical Patches - applied within 48 hours of Progent being notified - invoiced only when needed

Initial Patching Event Additional Costs:
Initial Patching will have an additional cost per server or network device to provide for review and documentation of current patch level and any other documentation needed for properly managing the ongoing patching as defined above. If multiple patches are needed that require additional time for the initial patching, Progent will provide any estimates beyond the normal patching cost.

Additional Services Available:

Download Progent Patch Management Services Datasheet
To download a datasheet about the features and benefits of Progent Patch Management Services, select:
Progent Patch Management Services Datasheet. (PDF - 330 KB)

Contact a Progent Expert about Patch Management Services
For more information about Progent's patch management services, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or see Contact Progent.

Ransomware 24x7 Hot Line: Call 800-462-8800
Progent's Ransomware 24x7 Hot Line is designed to help you to complete the urgent first step in mitigating a ransomware attack by stopping the bleeding. Progent's online ransomware engineer can assist businesses to locate and isolate infected devices and guard clean assets from being compromised. If your network has been penetrated by any version of ransomware, don't panic. Get immediate help by calling Progent's Ransomware Hot Line at 800-462-8800. For more information, see Progent's Ransomware 24x7 Hot Line.



An index of content::

  • 24 Hour Harrisburg At Home Workforce Solutions Expertise Harrisburg-York, PA, United States 24x7x365 At Home Workers Assistance in Harrisburg - Set up Guidance Harrisburg-Harrisburg, PA
  • 24x7 Nephilim Ransomware Hot Line Brooklyn Locky Ransomware Hot Line Brooklyn, New York
  • Smartphone patch management Consulting Services
  • Alpharetta Work from Home Employees Set up Consulting Services Alpharetta, GA Telecommuters Alpharetta Guidance - Support Consulting and Support Services Alpharetta
  • Anaheim Remote Workforce Endpoint Security Solutions Consulting and Support Services Remote Workforce Anaheim Consultants - Security Systems Consulting Services Orange County Southern California
  • iOS patch management Consulting Services
  • At Home Workforce Consulting Services - Lynnwood - Backup/Restore Systems Consulting Lynnwood-Edmonds, WA Telecommuters Lynnwood Consulting Experts - Data Protection Systems Consultants Lynnwood-Edmonds, WA
  • At Home Workforce Midtown Manhattan Guidance - Conferencing Systems Consulting New York City-Chelsea, NY At Home Workers Consulting Services near Midtown Manhattan - Video Conferencing Technology Consulting Services
  • Bakersfield Crypto-Ransomware Forensics Bakersfield California Bakersfield DopplePaymer Ransomware Forensics Analysis Bakersfield, Kern County
  • Biggest Clearwater Microsoft Dynamics GP-Great Plains Migration Support Services Clearwater, Pinellas County MS Dynamics GP (Great Plains) Reseller near Clearwater - Implementation Support Clearwater St Petersburg
  • Charleston South Carolina Top Quality Teleworkers Charleston Expertise - Collaboration Systems Assistance At Home Workers Expertise near Charleston - Collaboration Systems Expertise Charleston, United States
  • Cisco Networking Firm Cisco Specialists Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN, Knoxville, TN, Knoxville, TN
  • Computer Consultants SharePoint 2013 Professional SharePoint Server 2010 Ontario, CA, US
  • Consultancy Services Group Mountain View Sunnyvale Technical Consulting
  • Consulting Services Ryuk ransomware cleanup Ryuk ransomware cleanup Consulting Services
  • Dayton, Ohio Computer Service Companies Small Business IT Consulting Company Dayton-Montgomery County
  • Des Moines Remote Workforce Collaboration Systems Consulting Experts Des Moines Iowa Telecommuters Des Moines Consulting Experts - Collaboration Systems Assistance Des Moines International Airport DSM
  • Engineers BES Express Microsoft Expert BES Express Consultant Services
  • Biggest Engineers Wi-Fi controllers patch management
  • Exchange Server 2010 Network Security Consultants Rancho Cordova-Folsom Rancho Cordova Exchange 2016 Small Business Computer Consulting Firms
  • Expertise for Naples Network Support Organizations Naples Consulting Experts for Naples Network Service Companies Naples-Bonita Springs, Florida
  • Greensboro Crypto-Ransomware Operational Recovery Greensboro Greensboro Ransomware Mitigation Greensboro Winston-Salem
  • IT Outsourcing and Co-sourcing Whitepapers White Papers Advantages of IT Outsourcing
  • Immediate Teleworkers Stamford Expertise - Setup Consultants Stamford Danbury Greenwich Stamford Work at Home Employees Integration Guidance Stamford Danbury Greenwich

  • ProSight Private Cloud Services Specialists
    ProSight Hosting for Virtual Servers Consultancy

    Progent's ProSight Virtual Hosting service offers advanced virtual server technology, a world-class data center, and the support services of Progent's Microsoft-certified consulting team to provide small and midsize companies with a complete IT outsourcing alternative that improves network dependability and protection, reduces management hassle, and lowers expenses. With Private Cloud Hosting, a smaller business can have each of its operating system platforms and key business application servers supported within a secure and reliable data center on a high-performance, non-stop virtual server set up and maintained by Progent's network support experts.

  • Indianapolis Microsoft Dynamics GP Customization Experts Indianapolis, IN Dynamics GP-Great Plains Vendor near me in Indianapolis - Migration Help Indianapolis
  • Irving Spora Ransomware System-Rebuild Irving, TX, US Irving Ryuk Crypto-Ransomware Malware System-Rebuild Example
  • Largest Teleworkers Consulting and Support Services - Lincoln - Video Conferencing Solutions Expertise Lancaster County Nebraska Teleworkers Lincoln Consulting - Conferencing Solutions Assistance
  • MS Dynamics GP Gold Partner nearby Baltimore - Migration Development Baltimore Downtown Baltimore, MD MS Dynamics GP Baltimore Dealer - Installation Experts
  • MS Dynamics GP Guadalajara Premier Partner - SQL Server Experts Tlaquepaque, Jalisco Immediate Dynamics GP Reseller nearby Guadalajara - Training Expert Guadalajara Mexico
  • Microsoft Experts Small Business Computer Consulting Firms Small-Medium Business SMB Support services
  • Mississippi IT Outsourcing Firm Top Ranked Mississippi Computer Network Support
  • MongoLock Ransomware Hot Line Skokie 24/7/365 MongoLock Ransomware Hot Line
  • MongoLock ransomware hot line Specialists ransomware data recovery Services
  • Network Recovery Cisco Phoenix, Maricopa County Cisco IT Service Phoenix, AZ, America

  • VPN Professionals
    Top Ranked Cisco Virtual Private Network Consulting

    Cisco's security and remote access solutions for small to medium sized companies represent a full range of easy-to-administer security hardware and software to let you protect your entire information system. Cisco's Virtual Private Network line includes routers and switches, firewalls, and VPN access concentrators. Progent's expert consulting staff includes experienced engineers with Cisco CCIE and Cisco Certified Network Professional certifications who can help your organization to select Cisco Virtual Private Network, Cisco RADIUS Security, and other Cisco security solutions that align best with your business objectives.

  • Consult IoT device patch management
  • Omaha Remote Workers Management Solutions Expertise Omaha, Douglas County Omaha At Home Workers Endpoint Management Systems Guidance Omaha Council Bluffs
  • iPhone patch management Professionals
  • Pleasanton Ryuk Crypto-Ransomware Incident Reporting Pleasanton Nephilim Ransomware Forensics Analysis Livermore, United States
  • ProSight Reporting Network Infrastructure Management Online Help Help and Support ProSight Reporting Infrastructure Monitoring
  • Remote Workers Uberlândia Guidance - Management Tools Assistance Uberlandia, Estado de Minas Gerais 24/7 Work from Home Employees Consulting Services nearby Uberlândia - Management Solutions Guidance

  • Supplemental Help Desk Cost Savings Onsite Technical Support
    Extended Service Desk Economics Support and Integration

    Progent's Help Desk Call Center outsourcing and co-sourcing services help companies to reduce costs and increase productivity.

  • Santa Rosa, CA Slackware Linux, Solaris, UNIX Online Help Sebastopol CA Ubuntu Linux, Solaris, UNIX Remote Support
  • Security Consultants SQL Server 2012 Gatineau, Quebec Security Consulting Firm SQL 2014 Ottawa
  • Security Forensics Services Ontario California Firewall Cybersecurity Consultancy Ontario
  • Wi-Fi controllers patch management Consulting Services
  • Specialists Spora ransomware recovery Top ransomware protection Professionals
  • Engineers VoIP phones patch management
  • Staffing for IT Service Teams Webster, TX Short-Term Staffing Support Consulting Expertise Webster
  • Technician Cisco Roseville-Granite Bay, CA Cisco Computer Consulting Company Roseville California
  • Telecommuters Midland Consulting Services - Help Desk Call Center Augmentation Consultants Midland Texas Midland At Home Workforce Call Desk Outsourcing Consulting and Support Services Midland
  • Teleworkers Assistance near Houston - VoIP Solutions Consulting Houston Downtown Houston Texas, US Houston Remote Workers VoIP Solutions Assistance
  • Teleworkers Des Moines Consulting Services - IP Voice Solutions Assistance Des Moines International Airport DSM Des Moines At Home Workers VoIP Systems Expertise Des Moines, IA
  • Top Quality Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Consulting Service Firm Alexandria, VA SQL Server 2019 Upgrade Northern Virginia

  • Amazon AWS hybrid cloud integration Engineer
    Development Company Amazon EC2 security

    Progent offers affordable remote support to help companies to integrate Amazon AWS cloud services such as Amazon EC2 for virtual machine hosting, Amazon S3 for scalable low-latency storage, and Amazon Glacier for value-priced archival storage. Progent can assist you with every phase of Amazon AWS integration including needs analysis, preparedness evaluation, architectural design and review, testing, deployment, centralized administration, performance optimization, software license management, backup/restore solutions, and security. Progent can provide advanced expertise with firewalls and VPN technology and can help you deploy cloud-based or hybrid cloud environments that efficiently integrate Amazon AWS services. Progent can provide as-needed consulting to assist you to resolve technical roadblocks or Progent can provide comprehensive project management outsourcing to help you migrate to the Amazon AWS cloud on schedule and on budget.

  • Windows 8.1 Training Support and Integration Windows 8.1 Work Folders Specialists
  • Windows Server 2016 Network Support Technician Port Newark Information Technology Integrators Windows Essex County New Jersey
  • Windows System Support Iowa Computer Specialists Windows Iowa
  • Work at Home Employees Assistance in Petaluma - Help Desk Outsourcing Guidance Petaluma, CA 24-7 Petaluma Work from Home Employees Call Desk Solutions Consultants Petaluma, CA

  • SentinelOne Phishing Defense Consultant
    24x7 SentinelOne Singularity XDR Consulting

    Progent is a reseller and integrator for SentinelOne's Singularity product line, a subscription-based, cloud-centric threat management solution that includes AI software and expert services to deliver comprehensive endpoint detection and response.

  • Work at Home Employees Consulting Services near me in Hayward - Collaboration Solutions Consulting Services Union City, CA Castro Valley, CA Hayward Work at Home Employees Collaboration Technology Expertise
  • Work at Home Employees Denver Consulting and Support Services - Voice/Video Conferencing Technology Consulting Experts Denver Denver Work from Home Employees Voice/Video Conferencing Solutions Guidance Denver Aurora

  • Top Quality Email Allow Lists Engineers
    Email Reputation Analysis Consultant Services

    Progent's ProSight Email Guard uses the technology of leading information security vendors to deliver web-based management and comprehensive protection for all your inbound and outbound email. The powerful structure of Progent's ProSight Email Guard combines a Cloud Protection Layer with a local security gateway device to provide advanced protection against spam, viruses, Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks, Directory Harvest Attacks, and other email-borne threats. Email Guard's Cloud Protection Layer serves as a preliminary barricade and keeps the vast majority of threats from reaching your network firewall. This decreases your exposure to external attacks and saves network bandwidth and storage space. Email Guard's onsite gateway appliance provides a further level of analysis for incoming email. For outgoing email, the onsite gateway offers AV and anti-spam filtering, protection against data leaks, and encryption. The local security gateway can also help Exchange Server to track and protect internal email that originates and ends inside your security perimeter.

  • installation and Administration SQL SQL Technical Consultants Oklahoma City, OK, U.S.A.

  • © 2002-2023 Progent Corporation. All rights reserved.