The NCSC has warned organisations to prepare for a ‘vulnerability patch wave’, with AI helping researchers uncover weaknesses across software, cloud platforms and legacy systems at a much faster rate. Organisations need to be ready to deploy security updates quickly, more often and at scale.
I previously looked at the commercial opportunity this creates for channel partners. But before partners can have that conversation with clients, they need to make sure their own patching processes are up to the job.
Whether you describe your business as an MSP, reseller or technology provider, clients will expect clear answers. Which vulnerabilities matter most? What has been patched? Where does risk remain?
Here are five areas I would review now.
Manual patching processes will struggle as the volume of updates increases.
If your team still relies on spreadsheets, individual checks or deploying updates one endpoint at a time, the patch wave will expose those bottlenecks quickly.
Automate operating system and third-party application updates wherever practical. Set clear policies covering approval, deployment schedules and exceptions so patches can move without someone having to manage every step manually.
The NCSC recommends enabling automatic updates and secure hot patching wherever these options are available.
Automation does not mean removing oversight. It means keeping manual intervention for the systems and updates that genuinely need it.
Speed matters, but you also need to know that the patches being deployed can be trusted.
Partners should understand where third-party patches come from, how they are checked and how their integrity is protected before they reach a client endpoint.
Heimdal maintains its third-party application repository in-house, with updates validated by its security and patch management teams before they are packaged for deployment. Updates are then delivered through encrypted packages and HTTPS transfers.
This is a question worth asking of any patch management vendor. Seeing an application listed in a patch catalogue does not tell you how the update reached it or what checks took place beforehand.
Patching rings let you start with a small group of endpoints, expand the rollout once the update has been tested and then deploy it across the remaining estate.
If an update causes a compatibility problem, the impact is contained. If everything works as expected, you can continue the rollout with more confidence.
Heimdal’s update rings support staged deployment for Windows updates and third-party applications, with visibility across each phase of the rollout.
There will be cases where the normal process needs to move faster. The NCSC advises accelerating updates where a critical vulnerability is being actively exploited, particularly when it affects an internet-facing system.
The important thing is to have your rings and policies agreed before an urgent patch arrives.
Prioritisation should consider whether the vulnerability is being actively exploited, whether the affected system is exposed to the internet and how important that system is to the client’s operations.
The NCSC recommends starting with external attack surfaces, including internet-facing systems, before working inwards across cloud and on-premises environments. Critical security systems should also be prioritised.
Partners should also keep a clear record of any exceptions. If a patch cannot be applied immediately, document the reason, the remaining risk, any temporary controls and when the decision will be reviewed.
That gives the client a proper record of the risk rather than a vague assurance that the update is being looked at.
Even with a good patching process, there will be a period between a vulnerability being disclosed and every affected endpoint receiving the update.
Endpoint protection, DNS security and filtering tools all have a role during that window.
Endpoint security can detect suspicious activity on the device, while DNS filtering can prevent connections to known malicious domains and infrastructure. Heimdal provides patch management alongside endpoint detection and DNS security within the same platform.
These controls do not remove the need to patch. They help reduce exposure while an update is being tested and deployed.
Treat the NCSC’s warning as a practical deadline for reviewing how you currently manage patches across client estates.
How much of the process is automated? How are third-party patches validated? Can updates be deployed in controlled rings? How are critical vulnerabilities prioritised? What protection remains in place while patches are pending?
If the answers aren’t clear for you, it’s time to address them.
Clients will increasingly expect evidence that vulnerabilities are being managed properly. Partners that can provide clear reporting, explain where risk remains and show how quickly action has been taken will have much better client conversations.
Read the NCSC’s guidance on preparing for the vulnerability patch wave
Read my previous article, Turning the AI patch wave into a growth opportunity
To find out how Heimdal can support your patch management and endpoint security services, get in touch with the Brigantia team.