Unpatched Systems Pose a Growing Threat to Cybersecurity

By Netvora Tech News

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The risk of cyberattacks is escalating as many organizations fail to keep their systems up to date with the latest security patches. According to recent research, 57% of cyberattack victims acknowledge that available patches would have prevented breaches, yet nearly one-third admit to failing to act, compounding the risk. The alarming trend is highlighted in a Ponemon study, which shows that organizations now take an average of 43 days to detect cyberattacks, even after a patch is released. This is a significant increase from 36 days the previous year. Meanwhile, attackers' ability to exploit vulnerabilities surged by 180% from 2023 to 2024, according to the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report. The chronic firefighting approach to cybersecurity is making manual or partially automated patching overly burdensome, further pushing patching down teams' priority lists. As a result, relying on manual or partially automated patching systems is considered too time-consuming, leading to patching being relegated to the bottom of a team's action item list. This sentiment is echoed in an Ivanti study, which found that the majority (71%) of IT and security professionals believe patching is overly complex, cumbersome, and time-consuming.

When it comes to patching, complacency kills

The importance of proactive patching cannot be overstated. With attacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, it's crucial that organizations prioritize patching to stay ahead of potential threats.

Ring deployment: proactive defense at scale

To address the growing threat, organizations must adopt a proactive approach to patching. Ring deployment, which involves deploying patches at the network edge, offers a scalable and efficient solution for organizations of all sizes. By leveraging ring deployment, organizations can ensure that their systems are always up to date, reducing the risk of cyberattacks and minimizing downtime.