DIY Patching vs Managed Patching for Credit Unions
New! Learn about our patch management service, an easy way we help credit unions with managing patches. Protecting digital information is no small task, especially in the age of COVID-19. Security breaches to Equifax and Capital One show that even massive financial institutions are at risk. And such breaches are only expected to increase in the coming years.
With that in mind, it’s more important than ever that credit unions stay secure. The best first steps to ensuring security is getting the low hanging fruit—the easy wins. We’re talking about staying up to date with security patches.
The easiest entry a hacker has is through a known vulnerability that hasn’t been patched. Don’t let hackers in through a hole you could have fixed!
But should you do your own patching? Or should you get someone else to handle it for you?
Managed Patching vs DIY Patching
In theory, both DIY and managed patching have the same outcome. In practice, however, many DIY options fall short.
We all know that the workday seems to end a couple of hours before we get all our work done. As hot new items are dropped on our desks, sometimes they push aside other important tasks. It’s not uncommon to delay patch installs because something else comes up.
In fact, nearly 60% of breaches in the last couple of years were caused by known vulnerabilities that went unpatched. Because patching too frequently slips through the cracks, managed patching may be worth it for credit unions. Here’s what you can expect:
Managed Patching for Credit Union
Managed patching reduces just about all the patching work on the credit union’s part. With managed patching services, you won’t have to worry or think about patching at all. Here’s what managed patching services will do for you:
· Work with your credit union to develop patch groups and schedules
· Detect, download, and install any available patches
· Avoid patches that would damage or break applications or programs (such as legacy systems)
· Compile a detailed monthly patch report
· Integrate new servers and devices as necessary
· Relieve compliance concerns or issues
· Provide ongoing support when needed
Managed patching for credit unions is effective, flexible, and convenient. And it can be a major win for the credit union. Managed patching takes a sizeable workload off any IT department’s shoulders.
DIY Patching for Credit Union
When done right, DIY patching is just as effective as managed patching. While managed patching may bring in additional layers of security, a robust process, and proprietary tools to streamline the patching process, they aren’t necessary to make patching happen.
However, without all the extras and the day-in, day-out expertise, DIY patching does take longer.
Depending on the IT department and the credit union, in-house patching takes weeks to do what we do in days.
Which Solution Is Right for Your Credit Union?
Either patching solution should work for your credit union. However, with the rise of security breaches at major financial institutions, we recommend erring on the side of caution. Managed patching is by and large more reliable than DIY solutions.
However, if you feel that your money is worth more than your time, or that you can outperform a specialized CUSO, then managed patching is not for you.
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Should You Consider Managed Patching?
Common Challenges with Patching
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