It's a nightmare scenario, arriving at the office to find encrypted files and a ransom demand on every screen. For many UK businesses, this nightmare becomes reality not through sophisticated hacking, but because of something far simpler: unpatched software vulnerabilities.
Patch management and vulnerability management aren't just IT housekeeping tasks; they're your frontline defence against ransomware attacks. Yet many organisations struggle to keep pace with the relentless stream of security updates, leaving critical gaps that attackers exploit with ruthless efficiency.
At Solace Cyber, we help organisations across the UK recover swiftly when attacks occur and strengthen their defences to prevent recurring attacks. Below, we’ll explain how effective patch management prevents ransomware, why unpatched systems remain the weakest link in your security posture, and the practical steps you can take to protect your business.
What Is Patch Management?
Patch management is the systematic process of identifying, testing, and deploying software updates across your IT infrastructure. These patches address security vulnerabilities, fix bugs, and improve functionality in operating systems, applications, and firmware.
Think of patches as digital repairs. When software developers discover security flaws, they release patches to fix those weaknesses before cybercriminals can exploit them. Without a structured approach to patch management, these updates may be delayed or overlooked entirely, leaving your systems exposed.
Effective patch management requires more than simply clicking "update now." It involves maintaining a complete inventory of all software assets, prioritising updates based on risk, testing patches for compatibility, and deploying them systematically across your organisation. For businesses handling sensitive data or operating critical systems, this process becomes essential to maintaining security and compliance.
The challenge lies in balancing speed with stability, as if you deploy patches too quickly without testing, you risk operational disruptions. Whereas if you wait too long, you leave windows of opportunity open for ransomware operators who scan the internet specifically for unpatched vulnerabilities.
How Ransomware Exploits Unpatched Systems
Ransomware groups treat unpatched vulnerabilities as unlocked doors, and the statistics paint a concerning picture of how frequently these entry points lead to successful attacks.
Vulnerabilities as the Primary Attack Vector
According to the 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, vulnerability exploitation was the initial access method in 20% of breaches, based on an analysis of 12,195 confirmed incidents. This represents a dramatic shift in the threat landscape: attacks targeting known vulnerabilities surged by 54% compared to the previous year, according to the Indusface State of Application Security Report 2024.
The European context mirrors this trend. The ENISA Threat Landscape 2025 report found that vulnerability exploitation accounted for 21.3% of initial access methods, with adversaries often weaponising newly disclosed flaws within days. This speed demonstrates why timely software updates are critical for ransomware prevention.
The Ransomware Connection
Of the 161 actively exploited vulnerabilities in the first half of 2025, 73 were specifically tied to ransomware deployments, serving either as the initial access point or used at some stage in the ransomware kill chain, according to Recorded Future's H1 2025 malware and vulnerability trends report.
Real-World Examples
The Qilin ransomware group exploited critical Fortinet vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-21762 and CVE-2024-55591) between May and June 2025, targeting organisations that failed to patch authentication bypass and remote code execution flaws in FortiGate and FortiProxy devices.
Similarly, the Black Basta ransomware group exploited Windows privilege escalation vulnerabilities throughout 2024 and into 2025. Despite patches being available in March 2024, slow software updates left numerous systems exposed for months.
Ransomware operators identify newly disclosed security flaws, develop exploitation techniques, then systematically scan for unpatched systems. Your patch management response time directly determines whether your organisation becomes their next victim. Effective ransomware prevention depends on closing these windows of vulnerability before attackers can exploit them.
Best Practices for Patch Management
Protecting your business from ransomware through effective patch management requires a strategic, systematic approach.
You should always regularly audit systems and applications, maintaining a comprehensive inventory of all hardware, software, operating systems, and firmware across your estate. You cannot patch what you don't know exists. Automated discovery tools help identify shadow IT and forgotten systems that might otherwise create security blind spots.
Prioritise critical updates, as not all patches carry equal urgency.
Focus first on:
- Internet-facing systems
- Known exploited vulnerabilities listed in CISA's KEV catalogue
- Patches addressing remote code execution flaws
- Risk-based prioritisation considering your specific threat landscape
Automate updates where possible, as automation reduces the window of exposure and eliminates human error. Configure automatic software updates for endpoint protection, web browsers, and standard business applications. For critical infrastructure, use automated scanning while maintaining manual deployment control to ensure stability.
Test patches before wide deployment. Establish a phased rollout process: test patches in isolated environments first, then deploy to pilot groups before organisation-wide implementation. This approach catches compatibility problems early without exposing your entire operation to potential disruptions.
Establish clear ownership and accountability for patching across different system types. Document your patch management policy, including timelines for different severity levels. The NCSC recommends patching internet-facing services within five days and internal systems within two weeks for routine software updates, strengthening your ransomware prevention strategy.
Strengthen Your Defences with Expert Support
Patch management and vulnerability management form the foundation of ransomware prevention, yet keeping pace with evolving threats requires constant vigilance and expertise. Solace Cyber offers comprehensive cyber risk management services designed to protect UK businesses from ransomware attacks before they occur.
As an ISO 27001 accredited business, we deliver 24/7 response services with same-day deployment capability. Whether you need guidance on strengthening your patch management strategy or immediate support following a breach, our Digital Forensic Incident Response teams stand ready to help.
Contact us on 01202 308818 if you’ve experienced a breach or complete our contact form for expert consultation on protecting your organisation from ransomware threats.
