Patch Management System

A Patch Management System is a software management system that orchestrates software patch lifecycles from patch identification through patch deployment.

• AKA: Patch Management Platform, Software Update Management System, Patch Administration System, Update Management System, Patch Lifecycle Management System.
• Context:
  • It can typically coordinate Patch Discovery Processes through vulnerability scanning tasks.
  • It can typically implement Patch Testing Protocols before production deployment tasks.
  • It can typically maintain Patch Inventory Databases for patch tracking tasks.
  • It can often enforce Patch Compliance Policys across system infrastructure.
  • It can often schedule Patch Deployment Windows to minimize system disruption.
  • It can often generate Patch Status Reports for compliance audit tasks.
  • It can integrate with Configuration Management Databases for asset tracking tasks.
  • It can range from being a Manual Patch Management System to being an Automated Patch Management System, depending on its automation capability.
  • It can range from being a Centralized Patch Management System to being a Distributed Patch Management System, depending on its deployment architecture.
  • It can range from being a Single-Platform Patch Management System to being a Multi-Platform Patch Management System, depending on its platform support scope.
  • It can range from being an On-Premise Patch Management System to being a Cloud-Based Patch Management System, depending on its hosting model.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Enterprise Patch Management Systems, such as:
    • Microsoft WSUS for Windows environment patching.
    • Red Hat Satellite for Linux environment patching.
    • IBM BigFix for multi-platform patch management.
  • Cloud-Based Patch Management Systems, such as:
    • AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager for AWS infrastructure patching.
    • Azure Update Management for Azure environment patching.
  • Open Source Patch Management Systems, such as:
    • Spacewalk System for Linux patch management tasks.
    • OPSI System for cross-platform patch management.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Version Control System, which manages code versions but not patch deployment tasks.
  • Software Distribution System, which deploys complete software packages rather than software patches.
  • System Monitoring System, which observes system states without applying software changes.
• See: Apply Patch Tool, Software Patch, Patch Application Task, Software Maintenance Process, Configuration Management System, Vulnerability Management System, Software Update Process, IT Service Management System, Change Management Process.

---