The Patching Problem

As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the issue of software vulnerabilities has become increasingly prevalent. The traditional method of addressing these vulnerabilities is through patching, which involves applying updates to software systems to fix security vulnerabilities. While patching has been an effective way of securing software in the past, relying solely on patching is no longer a viable solution. 

The main problem with relying solely on patching is that it is reactive rather than proactive. Patches are typically developed in response to security vulnerabilities that have already been discovered. This means that a software system is vulnerable until a patch is released, and even then, there is often a lag between the release of the patch and its implementation. This lag time can leave software systems vulnerable to attack for an extended period.

Furthermore, attackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they are always looking for new vulnerabilities to exploit. They can quickly identify vulnerabilities in software systems, develop exploits, and launch attacks before patches are even released. This means that relying solely on patching is not enough to keep software systems secure.

Another issue with patching is that it can be a time-consuming and costly process. Applying patches to a large number of systems can take a significant amount of time, especially if the systems are spread across multiple locations. Moreover, some patches may cause compatibility issues with other software, leading to downtime and additional costs.

To address these problems, more dynamic and proactive systems are needed to secure software systems. This includes implementing security measures such as intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and network segmentation. These measures can help identify and prevent attacks before they happen, rather than waiting for a patch to be released.

Another approach is to implement security measures during the software development process. This includes using secure coding practices, conducting security reviews, and implementing security testing throughout the development lifecycle. By incorporating security into the software development process, vulnerabilities can be identified and addressed before the software is released.

Rampart™ is an application security software that takes a proactive approach to an application's resiliency and security. Rampart™ is added to an application's CI/CD pipeline at any stage. Using the power of AI it learns your application's expected/normal behaviors, It's a non-invasive tool that blocks and alerts any anomalies that diverge from that baseline. 

Relying solely on patching is a reactive approach that leaves software systems vulnerable to attack. Instead, more dynamic and proactive measures are needed to secure software systems. This includes implementing security measures such as intrusion detection systems and firewalls, as well as incorporating security into the software development process. By taking a proactive approach to security, software systems can be better protected against attacks and vulnerabilities.

Take a look at Rampart™ in action: