glossary
What is patch management?
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Use the 3-question Fit CheckPatch management is the systematic process of identifying, deploying, installing, and verifying software code updates — such as patches, hot fixes, and service packs — for operating systems and applications.
What it means
Per NIST, patch management covers notifying, identifying, deploying, installing, and verifying software revisions. Keeping systems patched closes known vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, which is why it is a routine, high-impact task in systems administration, IT support, and security-operations work.
Core source records
This table lists the page’s core content records and when they were checked. Claim-specific citations appear beside the relevant text and may not be repeated here.
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Definition source for What is patch management? | National Institute of Standards and Technology — NIST CSRC Glossary | 2026-06-15 |
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