Quick Answer: Outdated software creates a highway for cybercriminals straight into your business. With attackers exploiting 75% of new vulnerabilities within just 19 days, while businesses take over 100 days to patch, you’re fighting a losing battle without proper patch management.
The shocking truth about software vulnerabilities.
Every year, some of the world’s most devastating cyberattacks are traced back to out-of-date software, ranging from point-of-sale malware to global ransomware incidents like WannaCry and Petya. Hackers constantly scan the internet looking for unpatched vulnerabilities in operating systems, applications, and even device firmware.
CISA warns that many successful ransomware attacks succeed because businesses haven’t applied a critical update, often due to oversight, inconvenience, or lack of IT resources. The cost of a breach is always higher than the cost of timely maintenance—an average of $4.4 million in 2025 according to IBM—and the risk only grows as more devices come online.
What makes your software a target.
High-Risk Categories
- Internet-facing systems: VPNs, web servers, and remote access tools
- End-of-life software: No longer receiving security updates
- Third-party applications: Often overlooked in patch cycles
- Network infrastructure: Firewalls, routers, and switches with outdated firmware
- Legacy systems: Critical but unsupported business applications
The business case for proactive maintenance.
Updating software isn’t just about fixing bugs. Security patches close loopholes that hackers are actively targeting. It’s a simple, inexpensive step that pays massive dividends, preventing the vast majority of attacks before they can start. With today’s automated update solutions, you can protect laptops, servers, firewalls, and even IoT devices without interrupting your business.
Attackers aren’t waiting around for you to schedule a maintenance window. In 2024, at least 768 distinct Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) were reported as exploited in the wild—a 20% jump year over year. Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report likewise found a 34% surge in breaches that began with vulnerability exploitation, especially against internet-facing devices and VPNs. Together, these trends show that known, fixable flaws continue to be one of the most common front doors into organizations.
Roughly a quarter of exploited CVEs are hit on or before public disclosure, and nearly 3 in 10 saw evidence of exploitation within a day in early 2025. Meanwhile, research shows 75% of new vulnerabilities are exploited within 19 days, but typical enterprises still take more than 100 days to patch, leaving a wide window for attackers.
Cost breakdown of inaction
- Immediate: System downtime, data recovery, forensic investigation
- Medium-term: Legal fees, regulatory fines, customer notification
- Long-term: Reputation damage, lost business, insurance premium increases
- Hidden: Staff overtime, consultant fees, system rebuilds
Comprehensive patch management and IT support.
Don’t make your team manually track every update. Magna5’s Managed Services remotely monitor your environment, push updates as soon as they’re released, and respond to incidents if suspicious activity is detected. From operating systems to third-party applications and mobile devices, we close gaps before hackers can exploit them, and provide the documentation and reporting you need for audits or compliance.
Combined with our endpoint security, MFA, and user awareness services, patch management becomes the backbone of a resilient, defense-in-depth cybersecurity strategy.
FAQ: Everything you need to know.
Q: Will patching cause system downtime?
A: Most patches are applied during scheduled maintenance with minimal user impact. Magna5 uses phased rollouts to control business risk.
Q: What about legacy systems that can’t be updated?
A: Magna5 helps protect older systems through network segmentation, enhanced monitoring, and access controls, while advising on secure modernization.
Q: Is professional patch management affordable for smaller businesses?
A: Absolutely. Automated management and flexible service tiers make it cost-effective for businesses of any size.
Q: What happens if a patch causes problems?
A: Magna5 uses robust testing and rollback procedures, as well as 24/7 support, to address problems quickly.
Q: How do you stay current with new threats?
A: Our team monitors threat intelligence feeds and vendor advisories to track new vulnerabilities and ensure prompt response.
