Pinpointing, planning, and road-mapping future software updates are essential for maintaining a secure, efficient, and functional database environment. While it may be tempting to delay updates in favor of other “more pressing” work, postponing these updates can lead to severe consequences down the line. By taking time to proactively plan updates, you can ensure smoother processes in the future.

Assess and Plan

The key to effective update management starts with a comprehensive assessment of your current software. Begin by cataloging all software applications and their versions, and compare your audit to the latest available and supported versions. This process will highlight outdated or soon-to-be outdated systems. Prioritize updates based on their importance and impact on your organization: Failing to update an outdated public-facing application may have more dire consequences than failing to update a developer-only sandbox environment. But remember that those aging backend servers can still pose a security risk.

Identify and Prepare for Risks

There are several risks associated with implementing updates:

• Both the planning period and the implementation period could reveal new and unexpected issues
• Unforeseen complications could occur if you do not have a robust test environment that mirrors your production environment – if your test environment is inadequate, now is the time to improve it
• Updates could disrupt other parts of your system - preparation can help in identifying potential problems early

Uncomfortable talking to your manager about needing time and resources to plan future updates? Consider framing the conversation around risks and benefits:

• For supportive managers, leverage upcoming audits or compliance requirements as justification for the updates - they’re going to want to be prepared ahead of time.*
• For managers who would rather delay, emphasize the risks of neglecting updates, such as security vulnerabilities and operational disruptions. Frequent small upgrades are generally less disruptive and more manageable than gigantic, infrequent nightmare upgrades.
• Present concrete examples of what has happened in similar situations to underscore the importance of staying current. Many people can probably point to a "Remember how that time went?" type of event.

*In such cases, what could have been a manageable update becomes a frantic scramble.

Planning and road-mapping updates not only address immediate issues but also contribute to long-term stability and security, helping your organization avoid major headaches down the road.

Additional Resources

Here are a few resources that can help you stay ahead and aware of any vital updates, especially related to security issues:

• Subscribe and routinely review the CISA's Catalog of known Vulnerabilities Catalog. Special attention should be paid to updates that are often overlooked but essential for security and functionality.
• The Cyber Management Alliance compiles listings of recent cyber attacks. Follow their blog.
• Bleeping Computer information security and technology news site covers the latest security threats and new ways to stay protected online. As the first news and support site to be added as a partner of the No More Ransom Project, they routinely share vital security-related news.

Unsure about where to start? Our team is here and ready to assist you in navigating the complexities of update management. We can provide expert guidance on creating a comprehensive roadmap tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your systems remain secure and functional. Contact Command Prompt today!