Cybercriminals relentlessly resort to every tool in their toolbox to breach security systems. Their end goal is usually to extort companies for monetary gain. In some cases, they might steal trade secrets and sell them to the highest bidder. Data breaches are especially effective if system devices are not updated to the latest firmware or patch.
Updating your device software is an effective defense against ransomware attacks. Yet it isn’t uncommon for businesses to keep system updates on the backburner because of the inconvenience and downtimes.
But this is a major lapse in security that could leave you wide open to malware, ransomware, and data breaches. It is important to foster a culture of security in which your workforce understands the importance of regular updates – even if it comes at the cost of inconvenience to them.
Here are a few major reasons why regular software updates are so important.
Stop Data Breaches
A major benefit of regularly updating your devices is the ability to stop data breaches from occurring.
Cybercriminals will discover security flaws on outdated devices. They can develop tools that leverage these lapses in security to compromise your sensitive data.
Once they get access to your network, hackers can demand payment in bitcoin to return your data back to you. In more serious cases, cybercriminals may even release your trade secrets to your competitors.
Regular software updates should be your first line of defense against data breaches. Companies should prioritize system updates at the earliest.
Improved Efficiency
In addition to patching vulnerabilities in your systems, software updates may also include enhanced features and improved compatibility with various devices and applications. They can also upgrade the stability of the software, remove bugs, and delete undesirable features.
Most updates aim to improve the end-user experience and, with it, the overall productivity. While repeated pop-up reminders can be very annoying, especially if you have a lot of work to do, you can improve your overall experience and productivity in the long run by ensuring that you get the most out of your devices.
Think of it this way; if you can get more work done per hour, you will have the ability to scale your business, save overhead expenses, and provide a better experience to clients. All of this will have an impact on your bottom line.
As time goes on, you will be able to invest more computing resources into your business, allowing you to sustain this productivity boost.
Protect Your Overall Network at Large
If your device fails to prevent the malware from integrating into the machine, there is a high chance that it will spread to other devices connected to the network.
Malware and viruses are designed to cause as much damage to networks as possible.
This can result in a snowball effect as every machine on the network quickly becomes infected with the same virus. The resulting downtime can significantly impact your bottom line and cause irreparable damage to your reputation.
In other words, running device software updates regularly is an efficient way to ensure that all your network devices are protected.
Gaining Access to Reporting Tools
Device updates may give you access to advanced reporting tools and new features. These reporting tools can improve your business functionality by increasing reliability and accuracy. Many updates come with improved user interfaces, dashboards, and interactive reports that enhance your experience with the device.
There may be new ways of communicating with other programs and solutions to gain visibility into your operations.
Improve Regulatory Compliance
Regular device updates can improve security and regulatory compliance by securing your data. Financial institutions and hospitals that carry sensitive data are often subjected to strict regulatory standards.
This is where it helps to run device upgrades regularly to improve compliance levels across the organization and save costs related to compliance management. In some cases, security updates may also include improved regulatory compliance features with real-time metrics for the whole organization.
This ultimately improves your company’s reputation and trust with the customer base. Failure to update your devices can have major repercussions, such as your license being revoked and your ability to meet business objectives. Regularly updating your devices and software can mitigate these risks by maintaining regulatory compliance.
Support for Other Applications
Most applications and software may not work on older versions of your device. The best way to deal with incompatibility is to update all your devices – but not everyone chooses to do so.
Forgoing device updates can significantly impact your workforce’s ability to operate at peak efficiency and deprive them of essential tools critical to their productivity.
Some companies avoid updating their software because of the temporary dip in productivity. But they fail to realize that device updates are critical to long-term productivity.
If you are worried about interruption to your business, consider updating your software after work hours. You can schedule most updates to run in the background without requiring user input.
Save Costs
Updating system software sounds expensive, but the truth is that older systems cause more issues in the long run. For example, the cost of disruption due to data breaches, unstable systems, and incompatibility with crucial software can quickly add up to more than it would cost to update your device.
More importantly, it saves the cost and time associated with maintenance. Maintaining legacy systems with outdated software is expensive, and the costs will add up.
Wrapping Up
To sum up, running device software updates regularly will lead to high performance and more system reliability.
Moreover, you can get access to advanced security systems, resources, tools, and visibility into your operations. New updates can also contribute to improved employee productivity. They are less likely to malfunction, which boosts performance, reduces frustration, and eliminates workflow friction.
Security updates are an essential component of your company. While it may seem like an inconvenience, the reality is that it is more cost-effective and leads to long-term success.
Build a resilient infrastructure with Microsys to stay ahead of your competition – and cyber criminals. Contact us today for more information.
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