Patches are designed to respond to vulnerabilities in software, and to therefore ensure that your system is safe from corrupted programmes or other security breaches. If you are comfortable with installing patches and patching software yourself, then you may feel like you are set to keep your network or system safe in the long-term. However, you can save yourself a great deal of hassle, as well as increase overall security by incorporating a patch management tool into your security plan.

Even if you are not running a large network, the chances are that you have synchronized your devices across different platforms. Most smartphones are extensions of your home systems, and yet few would think of using the same security on their phone as they would on their computer. However, with proper software, maintaining security across all your devices is simple, and comes via an intuitive interface, which will make it far easier for you to stay on top of security alerts and updates.

Good patching software will also be able to warn you of attacks, giving you the opportunity to learn from security compromises and prevent them in the future. Particularly superior patching software will give you detailed information of security breaches so that you can identify vulnerabilities before any damage has been caused.

With a patching tool, you will be able to automatically improve your security with third-party programmes - still the biggest vulnerability to any system, as well as ensure that your system is secure without facing any compatibility issues. With high-end patching software, you can keep your network secure even if you are installing Microsoft programmes on a Mac OS, or vice versa.

Furthermore, a quality patch management tool will be able to keep your network secure without you needing to constantly monitor performance. It can also remind you when the patches on different programmes are outdated or due to expire. This takes a lot of the pressure off you as the network manager, as it's become increasingly difficult to monitor security manually (particularly as networks become larger and more complex).

Thus, with a good piece of patch software, most of the legwork will be taken out of your hands. You can run regular weekly or even daily scans to monitor security, although if you do not wish to, the software can efficiently and dynamically monitor security automatically. Patching a system yourself is possible, although with a patching tool you will reduce your own time and effort, leaving you free to concentrate on other matters.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.