This policy establishes a formal process for keeping your software and systems up-to-date. It provides a simple, repeatable plan for identifying security vulnerabilities and applying patches promptly to protect your business from common cyberattacks.
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Prevent Common Cyberattacks: Close the security gaps that attackers love to exploit by ensuring critical patches are applied within a defined timeframe.
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Prioritize What Matters Most: Focus your patching efforts on high-risk systems, such as those facing the internet or processing sensitive data.
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Maintain System Integrity: Reduce the risk of downtime or data breaches caused by unpatched software and applications.
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Demonstrate Due Diligence: Provide auditors and regulators with a clear, documented record of your vulnerability and patch management activities to meet compliance.
Read Full Overview
The Vulnerability and Patch Management Policy for SMEs provides a structured framework for identifying, evaluating, and addressing technical vulnerabilities across organizational systems and infrastructure. Aimed at reducing cybersecurity risks, this policy mandates timely patching and risk-based remediation practices tailored to the needs of small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs). The policy applies to a wide range of IT assets including servers, desktops, laptops, mobile devices, cloud-hosted platforms, and network hardware. It encompasses the entire lifecycle of vulnerability and patch management, from scanning and detection to risk classification, patch deployment, and exception handling. This policy not only addresses the technical aspects of vulnerability management but also instills a sense of confidence and security among stakeholders, knowing that the organization is equipped to handle potential threats effectively.
What's Inside
- Vulnerability Detection & Monitoring
- Patching Schedules & Timelines
- Risk-Based Prioritization
- Patch Testing & Rollback
- Exception Handling Process
- Roles & Responsibilities
- Compliance & Audit Records
- Enforcement & Compliance
Built for Leaders, By Leaders
This policy turns the reactive task of 'updating stuff' into a proactive, risk-based program that systematically reduces your exposure to threats. It was authored by a security leader to be a practical framework that stands up to auditor scrutiny.
Authored by an expert holding:
Framework Compliance
🛡️ Supported Standards & Frameworks
This product is aligned with the following compliance frameworks, with detailed clause and control mappings.
| Framework | Covered Clauses / Controls |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | 8.1 |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | 8.88.9 |
| NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 | RA-5SI-2CM-2 |
| EU GDPR | Art. 32(1)(b) |
| EU NIS2 | Art. 21(2)(d)Art. 21(2)(e) |
| EU DORA | Art. 8(1)Art. 10(2) |
| COBIT 2019 | DSS05.02APO12.01 |
Part of a Complete ISMS Toolkit
This policy is one of 37 documents in our complete toolkit. When implemented as a set, our framework helps you achieve comprehensive compliance across major standards.
100%
ISO 27001:2022
95%
NIST
88%
NIS2
75%
DORA
70%
GDPR
Related Policies
This foundational policy is directly linked to the following organizational security policies to ensure comprehensive alignment and traceability across the ISMS.
P12S - Asset Management Policy
Identifies all assets requiring patching and vulnerability management.
P14S - Data Retention and Disposal Policy
Ensures decommissioned systems are securely updated or wiped.
P17S - Data Protection and Privacy Policy
Prioritizes remediation for systems processing personal data.
P22S - Logging and Monitoring Policy
Supports detection of unpatched systems or exploitation attempts.
P30S - Incident Response Policy
Defines procedures for responding to exploited vulnerabilities.
About This Policy
A Vulnerability and Patch Management Policy is a formal document that outlines how an organization will handle security weaknesses in its software and systems. For a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), this is a critical defensive measure. It establishes a consistent process to identify known vulnerabilities, assess the associated risks, and apply software updates (patches) in a timely manner to prevent them from being exploited by attackers.
This policy provides a structured, risk-based approach tailored for the SME environment. It sets clear timelines for applying different types of patches (e.g., critical vs. non-critical), defines roles and responsibilities for IT staff, and ensures that all patching activities are documented for compliance and audit purposes. Implementing this ISO 27001:2022-aligned policy helps your business systematically reduce its attack surface, protect against common cyber threats, and demonstrate a proactive commitment to security.
