Server and Desktop Management Software

Patch Management Software is a must at enterprises that use a variety of applications, to run their business. For instance, Microsoft releases an array of patches of various applications from time to time. It becomes extremely important for enterprises to keep abreast with the latest patch updates. Network Administrators need to roll out these patches on the network systems to avoid vulnerabilities and to keep security breaches and information thefts at bay.

Desktop Central's Patch Management competencies offer the perfect solutions for a complete Patch Life Cycle Management. Right from identifying the missing patches in the network, to downloading(from Microsoft website) and deploying on the network computers, Desktop Central has it all. Deploying Patches using Desktop Central Software helps enterprises adhere to the Patch Compliance norms. A simplified version of the entire process is explained in the diagram given below.

Fig: Patch Management Process

Microsoft Patch Center

The Microsoft Patch Center releases patches on the second Tuesday of every month. The Patches are categorized as Security Patches and Non-Security Patches. These patches are published in the Micorsoft site. Vulnerability Information is obtained from this site.

ZOHO Corp's Online Patch Database

The Online Patch Database serves as the baseline for Vulnerability Assessment in the Enterprise. However, a series of activities happen at the background before the Online Patch Database is ready for action. First and foremost, the vulnerability data that is obtained from the Microsoft site is tested for authenticity and functional accuracy at the ZOHO Corp. Test Lab. After the assessment , the Vulnerability Database is updated and published to the Central Patch Repository. The Central Patch Repository is a portal hosted in the ZOHO Corp. site, and holds the latest vulnerability database that has been published after a thorough expert analysis. The Central Patch Repository provides all the necessary information required for patch scanning and installation for the Desktop Central server situated in the customer site. This entire process is taken up on a periodic basis.

Automated Patch Management in Customer Network

The Desktop Central Server present at the customer site subscribes to the Central Patch repository, and synchronizes the vulnerability database for any new updates. After an Automatic System Scan, systems with the missing patches are identified. The Desktop Central Server then downloads the missing patches from the Microsoft site and stores them at a location in the Desktop Central Server. These missing patches are then downloaded from the server by the target machines remotely and installed sequentially later. After all this, how to validate the completion of the process completed by the Patch Management Software? Well, that is simple and the Patch Task Status Report provides details of the tasks related to Patch Management that are performed by Desktop Central software. This report is also quite useful for audits with respect to the Patch Compliance management activities.