Software updates may seem like a nuisance, but they’re actually an important component of maintaining the security, performance, and functionality of your systems. It’s not just about checking a box or adding a task to your calendar; keeping up with software updates is critical to protecting against cyberattacks, data breaches, and poor system performance.
When developers release software updates, they often include patches for vulnerabilities that attackers can use to gain access to your system and steal sensitive information, such as passwords and bank details. As more and more business processes become digitized, software update failures can be the gateway for ransomware attacks and other malicious activity.
Updating software also improves user experience and reduces downtime caused by glitches or bugs in the application. For example, video game updates are common for first-person shooter and MMORPG titles to address issues, increase compatibility with other apps, or add extra features that enhance gameplay.
Many software updates contain essential security upgrades to protect against known vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit, such as outdated security protocols. These security upgrades are designed to patch zero-day exploits and update older, less effective protocols to newer, tougher-to-crack standards.
Getting your team on board with regularly applying software updates is key to improving your security infrastructure. To make the process of managing software updates easier, many devices and applications offer options to enable automatic updates or set reminders for when they’re available. This can reduce the risk of accidentally missing a critical update, while freeing up time to check for available updates more frequently.