The percent of patches implemented within established timeframe is the best metric to demonstrate the effectiveness of an organization’s patch management process, as it measures how well the organization meets its patching objectives and reduces its exposure to vulnerabilities. This metric reflects the timeliness, completeness, and quality of the patching process, and can be compared against the organization’s patch management policy and standards. A high percent of patches implemented within established timeframe indicates that the organization has a mature and efficient patch management process that minimizes the risk of security breaches or operational disruptions due to unpatched systems.
[References:, •ISACA, Risk and Information Systems Control Review Manual, 7th Edition, 2020, p. 2501, •ISACA, Practical Patch Management and Mitigation2, •NIST, Guide to Enterprise Patch Management Planning3, , , , , , , , ]
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