Patch management tools are used to ensure that the components of a company’s software stack and IT infrastructure are up to date. These tools work by tracking updates of various software and middleware solutions. They then alert users of necessary updates or execute updates automatically. Companies use these tools to reduce an employee’s responsibility to update their applications and ensure known vulnerabilities are remediated.
To qualify for inclusion in the Patch Management software category, a product must:
Maintain a database of software, middleware, and hardware updates
Alert users of new updates or patch software automatically
Inform administrators of endpoints and users utilizing out-of-date software