Verve Industrial for OT/ICS Patch Management
What is OT patch management software?
OT/ICS patch management is often thought of as a basic cyber security process. Vulnerability and patch management are key components for major cyber security controls and compliance standards (i.e. NIST Cyber Security Framework, CIS Top 20 Controls, NERC CIP).
On the surface, a patch management process appears to be straightforward: simply apply software updates to your OT systems. Patches are provided by the vendors to close any security or functional holes in your systems. This is so basic on paper that it is often overlooked or neglected by many security teams and system operators.
Patch management is defined as a comprehensive cycle of ensuring baseline data, identifying available patches and known vulnerabilities, reviewing patches for applicability and OEM-vendor approval, designing deployment or mitigation strategies, executing patch deployment and confirmation, and finally re-establishing baselines.
While IT software patching occurs frequently, it tends to be tedious, difficult and more time consuming in OT environments when there is a shortage of time and necessary skills. That’s why Verve developed an end-to-end patch management program to reduce the time and complexity of safe patching to improve the quality of your industrial security.
End-to-End OT/ICS Patch Management with Verve
To combat the challenges with OT patch management, Verve Industrial Protection developed a multi-staged approach to streamline the patch management process. Learn about our six-step process in this blog:
Features of Verve’s OT/ICS Patch Management
Simplify your OT/ICS patch management program with rich asset inventory, vulnerability analysis and a closed-loop remediation process.
Rich Asset InventoryGather a robust asset inventory across all devices, including networking equipment and embedded OT devices through a 100% software agent
Vulnerability AssessmentInsight into the hardware, software and firmware inventory provides a comprehensive assessment without the need for risky vulnerability scanning
Enhance Asset DataCompare inventory to National Vulnerability Database to identify vulnerable versions of software and firmware
Reduce GapsVulnerabilities are tied back to specific software and devices so there is no gap or lag time in information
Integrated Review ProcessVerve OT patch management brings administrative functions such as marking patches as reviewed and approved into the same toolset
Detailed ReportingTime stamp actions and display specifics details (i.e. the time the patch was entered to the time until reviewed) on a patch aging dashboard
Full TransparencyFilter and sort patches approved or unapproved by OEM vendors for insight into the full vulnerability and patch landscape
Filter and Assign to EndpointsAutomatically filter on specific assets in scope for a patch and sort by endpoint characteristics (type of OS, framework criticality ranking, etc.)
- Automate Deployment Tests
Verve deploys OT patches to a series of test devices, monitoring their performance and enabling the user to take action across all device types in the console
- Confirmed Patch Deployment
Patch updates that are not working appropriately are rolled-back to be rescheduled at any sequence
Integrate DataIntegrate backup information before you patch so you feel confident knowing a recent, quality backup exists for each device
Apply Additional ControlsConfigure and send controls to endpoints such as automating rebooting, displaying a message or redeploy in case of a failure
Baseline RequirementsAutomatically document baseline changes into corporate change management workflows to capture the configuration and maintain compliance
- Profile Systems Pre and Post-Patching
Verve’s Agentless Device Interface gathers and confirms the patch updates have been deployed on networking, relays, PLCs, and other embedded devices
Verve's CEO on the OT Patch Management Process
Hear from John Livingston, CEO of Verve Industrial, as he explains how the end-to-end patch management solution integrates software and services for a closed-loop process to simplify day-to-day operations.
OT Patch Management Case Studies
To combat patching challenges, we combine the Verve Security Center software and services to significantly reduce time and complexity of remediation. See our patch management resources to learn how to create an effective end-to-end OT/ICS patching program to quickly improve cyber security maturity.
Learn more about the Verve Security Center
The only endpoint management platform for OT/ICS cyber security
Learn MoreAsset Inventory
Improve productivity by identifying embedded OT endpoints with 100% accuracy
Learn More
Vulnerability Management
Don’t just identify vulnerabilities, close the loop by remediating them from a single platform
Learn MoreConfiguration & Compliance
Implement the right cyber security standard for your organization and demonstrate progress within da
Learn More