We use Qualys Patch Management to remediate vulnerabilities. Qualys synchronizes with both the Vulnerability Management, Detection, and Response module and the Patch Management module. This provides a unified view of which vulnerabilities can be patched through Qualys and allows patching to be initiated directly from the VMDR module.
Most Windows security patches are released on Patch Tuesdays and become available to us through Qualys the following day. Once available, we can initiate patching to reduce vulnerabilities within our infrastructure. This process primarily addresses critical security updates from Microsoft and other third-party applications, allowing us to mitigate vulnerabilities using Qualys proactively.
Qualys Patch Management effectively mitigates risks through its risk-based automation, enabling rapid vulnerability remediation.
The integration of Qualys Patch Management with Qualys VMDR allows us to use the same device identification ID for both patch management and vulnerability identification. This enables us to easily determine which vulnerability a patch addresses, access CVE information, and validate patches based on product or product family. For instance, if we have Google applications with vulnerabilities, we can efficiently identify and patch them without searching for specific versions or missions. By selecting assets in Patch Management, we can automatically patch QID-based or family-based vulnerabilities identified by VMDR. This integration streamlines the patching process and provides clear visibility into the vulnerability status of our assets.
Our previous patch management products had communication issues with their agents. Qualys Patch Management utilizes the same agent as their vulnerability management system, streamlining the process. Security agents are more reliable than standard IT solutions, and because our IT team prioritizes agent uptime, patching is more accessible, and risk is reduced within our infrastructure. Qualys Patch Management offers immediate benefits. If a patch requires a reboot, Qualys allows users to initiate one within a specified timeframe automatically. Upon rebooting, the machine reports to the Qualys console and is automatically scanned. If the patch is successfully installed, the console reflects the update within 20 to 30 minutes. This streamlined process ensures efficient patch management and reduces vulnerabilities.
Qualys Patch Management's TruRisk automation allows us to prioritize patching vulnerabilities with available patches. This prioritization helps us focus on critical vulnerabilities and quickly remediate them, improving our security posture. The TruRisk score provides a clear metric to demonstrate the effectiveness of our remediation efforts to leadership, showing how quickly we address critical vulnerabilities and enhance our security.
TruRisk automation enhances data accuracy across business units. Leveraging the Vulnerability Management Tool for Remediation within TruRisk, patching can be initiated based on a risk score mechanism query, which provides the TruRisk score for a specific business unit. A subsequent query determines patch dispatchability, triggering a patch job if applicable. This process can be streamlined using Patch Query Language to efficiently retrieve data and execute accurate patching, reducing risk based on TruRisk scores.
Initially, the IT team resisted using Qualys Patch Management for vulnerability remediation due to its critical importance. However, after we demonstrated how integrating Patch Management with Vulnerability Management provides a single report and effectively reduces vulnerabilities, we convinced them to adopt it. This consolidated approach enhances efficiency and streamlines patch management throughout our organization.
Qualys Patch Management significantly improved our patching rates. Qualys provides access to exclusive security patches and boasts a comprehensive knowledge base covering a wide range of applications, including third-party software like Google Chrome, Edge browsers, and SQL. As Qualys expands its knowledge base, our patch management rates continue to improve. Furthermore, the Qualys support team has been instrumental in helping us resolve patching issues, such as installation failures, by efficiently identifying the root cause, whether it stemmed from network problems or the Qualys platform itself. With their assistance and the robust Qualys product, we have successfully mitigated these challenges.
Qualys Patch Management has significantly reduced our organizational risks. Previously, when using other solutions, our patch percentage was low, resulting in high risk. Qualys Patch Management, integrated with VMDR, immediately improved our patch percentage. Features like patch initiation, recurring patches, scheduling, and randomized patch downloading have been crucial in mitigating risk, especially for employees working from home with network issues. The randomized download option ensures patches are successfully downloaded even with interruptions, resuming automatically when the network connection is restored. These capabilities ensure Qualys Patch Management effectively reduced our organizational risk by 88 percent.
My favorite feature of Qualys Patch Management is its flexibility in executing scripts before and after patching. This is particularly useful for third-party or enterprise applications that require registry modifications to address vulnerabilities. We leverage this functionality to deploy scripts that adjust registry values, effectively patching vulnerabilities and enhancing the security of our machines. The ability to automate these tasks through Qualys Patch Management streamlines our workflow and improves our overall security posture.
Qualys could improve its randomized download feature and provide more detailed information about patch failures, including the reason for failure. This could include specifying whether the failure is related to a file download error, network interruption, application crash, or installer error based on the operating system. These enhancements would offer more insights into the patch management process and improve overall functionality.
I have been using Qualys Patch Management for the last two years.
The stability of Qualys Patch Management is a nine out of ten. While it's generally stable, there have been occasional issues, particularly when new patches for Linux have been introduced.
Qualys Patch Management's scalability is a ten out of ten. It scales efficiently across different machines globally, ensuring patches are deployed smoothly.
Qualys' technical support has been excellent. Their team has effectively resolved various issues, including some that originated within our network.
The initial setup was straightforward, leveraging the existing vulnerability management tool, which facilitated easy integration of Patch Management.
Deploying software to a single machine takes approximately one minute. However, in an organization with 1,000 machines, a traditional push deployment method could take up to four days to complete.
I would rate Qualys Patch Management ten out of ten. Qualys Patch Management has significantly benefited our security and remediation efforts.
Qualys Patch Management is deployed across multiple locations and time zones in various countries. While most of the IT team has access to view Qualys Patch Management, only a few individuals can initiate patching. Those with view access can assess the patching capabilities and compliance of specific machines, while a limited number of authorized personnel can deploy the patches.
Qualys Patch Management requires minimal maintenance, primarily involving updating the agent software on managed devices.
I would recommend Qualys Patch Management to those using a vulnerability management solution as it helps significantly in reducing risks. It provides various options such as using third-party repositories for patches, which are beneficial for comprehensive patch management.