The Speed of Exploitation Has Changed
In 2020, the average time from vulnerability disclosure to active exploitation was 45 days.
In 2024, it's under 15 days—and dropping.
Zero-day exploits are increasingly common. Attackers reverse-engineer patches within hours of release. If you're waiting weeks to deploy critical patches, you're leaving windows wide open.
What Modern Patch Management Looks Like
• Critical patches: 72-hour deployment, not 30 days
• Automated deployment: AI-driven prioritization based on your environment
• Continuous monitoring: Not just Microsoft—all software, all the time
• Risk-based prioritization: Patch what matters most first
Questions to Ask Your IT Provider
1. What's your average time to deploy critical patches?
2. Do you patch third-party applications or just Microsoft?
3. How do you prioritize patches across our environment?
4. What's your process for emergency out-of-band patches?
