Software updates are designed to refine aspects of a software program — improving security, rectifying bugs and optimizing performance. They also offer features that can be beneficial to business operations and user experiences. For example, iPhone users rush to update their device because it provides them with the latest technological innovations from Apple’s developers.
The most important reason to keep your systems up-to-date is that doing so will improve your cybersecurity posture. If you don’t have the most up-to-date versions of your software, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities to gain entry into a network or system and steal confidential information. In fact, some of the biggest data breaches in history (such as the Equifax breach) have been a result of unpatched vulnerabilities. Other security threats like ransomware attacks exploit software vulnerabilities to encrypt data and demand payment from users.
A common misconception about software updates is that they are only designed to patch security vulnerabilities. While most of the time these updates do fix software bugs, they can also be used to introduce new features or enhance software capabilities, which can significantly improve user experience and operational efficiency.
Many software programs are set up to automatically check for available updates and notify you when they are ready to be installed. This can be a great way to minimize the risk of missing an important update but it’s always best to be vigilant and regularly check for updates. Setting up a reminder to do this on your calendar is a good idea as well as creating a process to update all of your devices and systems in your workplace.