Why is patch management important in software security?

Patch management holds a critical role in software security primarily because it involves the systematic updating of software to keep it current and secure against vulnerabilities. By applying security patches, organizations can fix known bugs and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, thus protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of their systems.

Security patches are specifically designed to address weaknesses found in software post-release. These vulnerabilities can be exploited in various ways, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, or system failures. Keeping software up-to-date through patch management reduces the attack surface and fortifies the software against known threats.

The other choices, while they may relate to the broader software development process, do not directly address the importance of patch management in the context of security. Adding new features or addressing user feedback can improve usability and functionality, but they do not specifically mitigate security vulnerabilities. Additionally, decreasing system memory usage does not correlate with the primary goal of ensuring software remains secure against threats. Therefore, the emphasis on maintaining up-to-date software through effective patch management remains a fundamental practice in safeguarding against security risks.