Measure No. 4 Keep hardware and software up to date

Detailed checklist, divided into organisational and technical points.

Software (operating systems and programs)

Define a person who will be responsible for the following areas:
Managing licences
Periodically reviewing licences
Periodically reviewing updates
Replace/update outdated programs, according to risk assessment
Decide whether private programs are allowed
Make sure private programs are also updated

Hardware (devices)

Take an inventory of all devices (e.g., PCs, servers, network devices)
Replace outdated systems, according to risk assessment
Physically protect existing systems (e.g., access)
Decide whether private devices are allowed
Check private devices for security before use

Use only current operating systems and applications
Use only current applications
Isolate old systems from the network
Maintain an inventory management system for hardware and software and keep it up to date

Why do all of this?

Your guarantee for secure, functioning IT.
Adding software improvements and software renewals (patches and updates) are central issues when it comes to the security of your IT. This is because a lot of these improvements relate to security gaps in the operating system or even normal application software. One of the most important measures to undertake to be on the safe side is to install all updates for all software as quickly as possible. Basically, a patch fixes a bug in the software. An update, on the other hand, fixes several errors and can also implement new features in the software. The most important thing here is the operating system. Because of its widespread use, Windows is a popular target for hackers. It is therefore essential to always be using the latest version of the operating system.