Are you Protected from Cyber Threats? The Importance of Oracle Patch Management

Ransomware. Phishing. Malware. Denial of Service Attacks. These are words that strike fear into the heart of every CIO and IT shop in government, education, and the commercial world. No one wants their organization to be shut down and, even worse, their data taken and used in any malicious way. And there is no more valuable data than that contained in your mission-critical Oracle-based systems. There's no more important question to ask than, "Do my Oracle systems have all the latest cybersecurity updates?" Mythics can help ensure your systems are up-to-date and protected.  

In today's interconnected world, public sector and commercial organizations alike rely on Oracle software to drive their critical business operations. Oracle's software houses and processes the most critical data and information in government today. Maintaining a secure and stable Oracle environment is imperative. And there is no more effective method of keeping your Oracle environment secure than regular effective patch management. The timely installation of Oracle Critical Patch Updates (CPUs) is the basis for an effective cybersecurity strategy.    

At Mythics, we talk to Oracle customers across the government and find that they are challenged to implement patches in a timely manner. Often, they are months or even years behind in their patching, leaving them open to vulnerabilities and experiencing issues that have been resolved.  

With this in mind, we have developed our "Patch Management as a Service" offering, which has been adopted by Federal, State, and local government customers. This automated process works on the customer's schedule and change management process to make sure their systems are up to date. We provide updates and communication throughout the entire patching process, keeping stakeholders informed. We also set up blackouts and notifications in the system to ensure everyone is on the same page.  

Understanding the Oracle Patching Process   

Patch management is the process of applying software updates to rectify bugs, address security vulnerabilities, and enhance system performance. Implementing an effective patch management system focuses on ensuring that Oracle databases and applications remain up to date with the latest security patches and updates provided by Oracle. Time after time, this process has been shown to be the most effective way to prevent cyberattacks, improve performance, and improve end-user experience.  

Why use Mythics Patch Management as a Service?  

1. Enhanced Security: Oracle patch management plays a vital role in fortifying your systems against potential security threats. Regularly applying security patches helps protect your organization from vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.  
2. Improved Stability: Patching Oracle systems helps address software bugs and performance issues, leading to improved stability. By regularly updating and applying patches, you can enhance system reliability, reduce crashes, and ensure that your Oracle applications and databases perform optimally.  
3. Compliance Requirements: Whether it is FedRAMP, StateRAMP, CJIS, HIPAA, or other compliance regimes, each has specific guidelines around maintaining up-to-date software with the latest security patches. With Mythics' Patch Management as a Service, you can meet your compliance requirements and demonstrate a strong commitment to data security.  

Challenges in Oracle Patch Management   

Often, organizations have complex Oracle implementations with significant dependencies. These challenges make it difficult for organizations to keep everything up-to-date:  

1. The complexity of Oracle Systems: Oracle databases and applications can be complex, with interdependencies and specific requirements for patching. A detailed understanding of the environment is a must!   
2. Downtime and Disruption: Applying patches can require system downtime, which can impact critical business operations. Mitigating disruptions and ensuring a smooth patch deployment process requires careful planning, scheduling, and coordination with relevant stakeholders. Our Patch Management as a Service is automated, reducing downtime and keeping everyone updated all the way through the process.  
3. Resource Allocation: Successful patch management requires dedicated staff and resources. Organizations must allocate time, expertise, and appropriate resources to monitor, test, and deploy patches effectively. Most of the time, this happens at night or over the weekend. Mythics can take care of these activities, leaving your administrators available for high-value activities during the week.  

Mythics' Best Practices for Oracle Patch Management   

To navigate the challenges associated with Oracle patch management, we recommend implementing these best practices, which we provide through the Mythics Patch Management as a Service:  

1. 1. Regular Monitoring and Assessment: Establish a process for continuously monitoring Oracle's security alerts and patch releases for your relevant software infrastructure. Remember, these can happen at the Application, Database, Middleware, or Operating system levels. Assess the impact and severity of vulnerabilities to prioritize patching based on risk and potential impact. Oracle releases Critical Patch Updates (CPUs) on a regular schedule to provide security fixes for known vulnerabilities.  
2. Testing Procedures: Before deploying patches, conduct thorough testing in a non-production environment to ensure compatibility and identify any potential conflicts with existing systems or applications. Mythics deploys patches to lower environments and tests the following implementation, reducing your testing load. Comprehensive testing helps mitigate risks associated with patch deployment.  
3. Patch Prioritization: Prioritize critical patches based on the severity of vulnerabilities and their potential impact on your systems. Oracle assigns severity scores to vulnerabilities, helping organizations understand the urgency and importance of each patch. Develop a risk-based approach to patch deployment, ensuring that resources are allocated to address the most critical areas first.  
4. Automation and Tools: As an automated service, our Patch Management as a Service leverages automation to streamline and simplify the patch management process. These tools can assist in automating patch discovery, testing, deployment, and reporting, saving time and reducing the possibility of human error. It ensures that patches are deployed the same way in every environment!  
5. Notifications, Rollback, and Recovery Plans: Our Patch Management as a Service keeps everyone notified of the current status. We set up blackouts and system notifications to ensure no extraneous alerts are thrown. In addition, we develop rollback and recovery plans to mitigate the impact of unsuccessful patches or unforeseen issues that may arise during the patching process. Having a well-defined plan ensures a smooth transition and minimizes potential disruptions.  

Mythics can help you Implement an Effective Oracle Patch Management Strategy.   

• Our Patch Management as a Service can streamline this process. We will deploy a Patch Management team, staff responsible for overseeing patch management activities, including monitoring vulnerabilities, tracking patch releases, testing patches, and deploying them effectively. This team will keep you notified every step of the way.  
• Implement Patch Management Policies and Procedures: Develop clear policies and procedures that define roles, responsibilities, and the patching process, as well as document patch deployment plans, maintenance schedules, and guidelines for testing and rollbacks.  
• Create a Patch Deployment Plan and Schedule: We will outline an automated, well-defined patch deployment plan that takes into account system dependencies, prioritization, and potential downtime. We will work with you to develop a schedule that accommodates your business needs while minimizing disruptions.  
• Monitor and Audit Patch Management Activities: We will work with you to review and audit your patch management processes to ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.   

Effective Oracle patch management is essential to maintaining a secure and stable Oracle environment. By regularly applying patches, organizations can enhance security, improve system stability, and meet compliance requirements. Our Patch Management as a Service can be a key component of your cybersecurity strategy for your most precious assets, data, and critical systems.  

Contact Mythics today to learn how our Patch Management as a Service can help you implement a robust patch management strategy tailored to your organization's unique requirements, protect your Oracle environment, ensure data security, and experience uninterrupted system performance.