HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft Partners with NIST to Develop Hygiene Patching Program

Microsoft Partners with NIST to Develop Hygiene Patching Program

Microsoft and NIST want to create a more robust patch environment for organizations through the creation of the Critical Cybersecurity Hygiene: Patching the Enterprise Project.

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wants to make it easier for enterprise customers to have a more efficient way to patch the company's software. In an effort to do this, the company has partnered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Redmond says a new patch experience will be introduced soon based on the .

Mark Simos, lead architect for Microsoft's Enterprise Cybersecurity Group, wrote a blog about the solution developed with NIST. Called “Critical Cybersecurity Hygiene: Patching the Enterprise Project”.

NIST is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Microsoft says working with the body allows for a smoother patch experience, which it calls patch hygiene. The company says the program was initiated following the WannaCry attacks. Many organizations were left vulnerable to the attack simply because their machines were not patched.

Per a description on the NIST Page, the partnership will bring “prescriptive guidance on establishing policies and processes for the entire patching life cycle,” which will get published in an “NIST Cybersecurity Practice Guide.”

Neither Microsoft or NIST have said when the hygiene guide will go live. However, it seems some way off as NIST is seeking tech partner vendors to help with the project.

Patch Limitations

Microsoft investigated why users were not patching services and found many enterprises were uncertain on which tests to conduct to find out which patches are needed. Most were simply looking on online forums according to Simos.

“This articulated need for good reference processes was further validated by observing that a common practice for ‘testing' a patch before a deployment often consisted solely of asking whether anyone else had any issues with the patch in an online forum,” he explained.

It's worth noting Microsoft uses its own Message Center to highlight patches for . However, Simos concedes its not the most robust approach.

SourceMicrosoft
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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