What is the Difference Between Patch Management and Vulnerability Management?
The difference between patch management and vulnerability management is that patch management is a subset of vulnerability management. Both address the broader concept of Attack Surface Management (ASM):
- Patch Management is the process of identifying, acquiring, testing and deploying software updates (software patches) to fix security flaws or bugs in systems and applications. Software patch management is a reactive process that is focused on mitigating known vulnerabilities through timely patch application to minimize a system’s attack surface.
- Vulnerability Management is a broader concept that includes patch management that includes discovering, assessing, prioritizing and mitigating security weaknesses in systems and networks. Vulnerability management covers patches but also includes configuration errors, missing security controls and other risk factors.
While patch management is an important subset of vulnerability management, the latter encompasses a more holistic approach to Attack Surface Management and risk reduction by evaluating vulnerabilities in context and managing remediation accordingly.