Patch management means knowing what needs an update, when to apply it and how to confirm it worked. A small business can start with a reliable inventory, a maintenance window and one person accountable for exceptions.
Include devices that are easy to miss
List computers, servers and applications, then add routers, wireless access points and devices that rarely connect at the office. Record who owns each item, whether it still receives vendor support and how updates reach it. If a device no longer receives security fixes, plan its replacement or document how you will manage it in the meantime.
Schedule updates around the work
Enable automatic updates where appropriate and schedule restarts for a suitable window. For a business-critical application, pilot the update on a representative computer and check that a user can complete an entire task. Decide who can move maintenance forward when an urgent fix affects an exposed system.
Verify installs and follow up on exceptions
After maintenance, record which devices are current, which failed and which have not checked in. An update might be downloaded and still need a restart. Assign each exception to someone with a due date. If a remote laptop has reported no status, confirm its state before counting it as patched.
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