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Glossary

Update Management

Update Management

Update management involves managing and updating software on computer systems to ensure that they have the latest versions, patches, security updates and bug fixes. The goal of update management is to improve the stability and performance of systems and address potential security vulnerabilities.

Update vs. Patch

In IT, there is a linguistic and technical distinction between updates and patches. Basically, patch management is part of higher-level update management.

An update refers to a comprehensive update of software or an operating system. For example, it includes new features, an improved user interface, or other major changes. Updates are often new versions or releases and are usually produced less frequently.

On the other hand, a patch means a smaller ad hoc update to fix bugs, close security holes, or improve stability. Patches are usually released between major updates to respond quickly to urgent problems.