St. Bernard Software: Patching is more than a Technology Issue
In evaluating the latest threats to our networks, you might chalk up the success of Sobig.F to naive users clicking on attachments. However, Blaster and its many variants were preventable by installing a Microsoft patch that was released a month before the attack. This is another example of how a patch management policy can help prevent organizations from attacks.
The success of Blaster, despite its preventability (and flawed code), is indicative of a larger problem - the widespread view of patch management as purely a function of network administration, instead of as a business critical process. In fact, St. Bernard Software, makers of the patch remediation tool UpdateEXPERT(r), openly assert that a technology solution alone isn't always enough. St. Bernard advises that an effective patch management solution should be accompanied by an executive level commitment to the patch management process. This commitment requires defined policies, established responsibilities for ensuring network security and assistive technology tools. Without this commitment, St. Bernard maintains that organizations will continue to fall victim to preventable attacks.
SBS's UpdateEXPERT plays perfectly into a structured policy for patch management, as it gives you the tools to quickly assess patch levels throughout the network, and then deploy the necessary patches for your unique IT environment. Until virus attacks can be stopped indefinitely, patch management will continue to remain a critical business process. Get your 15 day _eval right here:
http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=030908TP-UpdateEXPERT
** taken from w2knews newsletter. Sun, 07 Sep 2003
In evaluating the latest threats to our networks, you might chalk up the success of Sobig.F to naive users clicking on attachments. However, Blaster and its many variants were preventable by installing a Microsoft patch that was released a month before the attack. This is another example of how a patch management policy can help prevent organizations from attacks.
The success of Blaster, despite its preventability (and flawed code), is indicative of a larger problem - the widespread view of patch management as purely a function of network administration, instead of as a business critical process. In fact, St. Bernard Software, makers of the patch remediation tool UpdateEXPERT(r), openly assert that a technology solution alone isn't always enough. St. Bernard advises that an effective patch management solution should be accompanied by an executive level commitment to the patch management process. This commitment requires defined policies, established responsibilities for ensuring network security and assistive technology tools. Without this commitment, St. Bernard maintains that organizations will continue to fall victim to preventable attacks.
SBS's UpdateEXPERT plays perfectly into a structured policy for patch management, as it gives you the tools to quickly assess patch levels throughout the network, and then deploy the necessary patches for your unique IT environment. Until virus attacks can be stopped indefinitely, patch management will continue to remain a critical business process. Get your 15 day _eval right here:
http://www.w2knews.com/rd/rd.cfm?id=030908TP-UpdateEXPERT
** taken from w2knews newsletter. Sun, 07 Sep 2003
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