What is the primary purpose of patch management?

The primary purpose of patch management is to manage updates to software and systems to fix vulnerabilities and bugs. This process involves a systematic approach to applying patches, which are updates released by software vendors to improve security, fix bugs, and enhance functionality.

Patch management is a crucial aspect of maintaining the security posture of an organization, as unpatched software can be exploited by malicious actors. Vulnerabilities in software can lead to data breaches, malware infections, and other security incidents. Regularly applying patches reduces the attack surface by addressing known vulnerabilities in a timely manner.

While upgrading the operating system might improve performance, that isn't the focus of patch management. Similarly, ensuring compliance with software licenses or monitoring user access and behavior are important security practices, but they do not encompass the core function of patch management. Thus, managing updates to software and systems fundamentally aims to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and systems within an organization.