* [Blog](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog) * [Palo Alto Networks](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/) * [Malware](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/malware-2/) * Staying Secure When ICS P... # Staying Secure When ICS Patching Is Not An Option [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F08%2Fstaying-secure-when-ics-patching-is-not-an-option%2F) [](https://twitter.com/share?text=Staying+Secure+When+ICS+Patching+Is+Not+An+Option&url=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F08%2Fstaying-secure-when-ics-patching-is-not-an-option%2F) [](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Forigin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2015%2F08%2Fstaying-secure-when-ics-patching-is-not-an-option%2F&title=Staying+Secure+When+ICS+Patching+Is+Not+An+Option&summary=&source=) [](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2015/08/staying-secure-when-ics-patching-is-not-an-option/&ts=markdown) \[\](mailto:?subject=Staying Secure When ICS Patching Is Not An Option) Link copied By [Chad Berndtson](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/cberndston/?ts=markdown "Posts by Chad Berndtson") Aug 14, 2015 1 minutes [Malware](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/malware-2/?ts=markdown) [SCADA \& ICS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/scada-ics/?ts=markdown) [cyberattacks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/cyberattacks/?ts=markdown) [Del Rodillas](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/del-rodillas/?ts=markdown) [Industrial Control Systems](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/industrial-control-systems/?ts=markdown) [Patch Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/patch-management/?ts=markdown) [Utility Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/utility-week/?ts=markdown) In a recent article for Utility Week, Del Rodillas describes a common challenge in securing industrial control systems (ICS) -- that they're highly susceptible to cyberattacks because their software patching and anti-malware update cycles are too infrequent, if they're happening at all. "In my experience, it's not that ICS professionals don't understand that patching is necessary and that systems are at risk of being compromised," Del writes. "Rather, it's how the cumbersome process of ICS patching affects their main priority, which is high uptime." Read the full article at Utility Week [here](http://utilityweek.co.uk/news/malware-threats-to-industrial-control-systems/1156842#.Vb9leCShOfR) \[registration required\]. And for more on patch management, hear Del and ICS experts discuss these challenges in an [on-demand webinar](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/paloaltonetworks-com/global/en_US/index/resources/webcasts/isa-patch-management.html) that's part of our ongoing series on ICS cybersecurity. *** ** * ** *** ## Related Blogs ### [AI Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-security/?ts=markdown), [Malware](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/malware-2/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown), [Research](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/research/?ts=markdown), [Unit 42](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/unit42/?ts=markdown) [#### From Ransom to Revenue Loss](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/10/from-ransom-to-revenue-loss/) ### [AI and Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/ai-and-cybersecurity/?ts=markdown), [AI Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/ai-security/?ts=markdown), [Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cybersecurity-2/?ts=markdown), [Data Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/data-security/?ts=markdown), [Incident Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/incident-response/?ts=markdown), [Reports](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/reports/?ts=markdown), [Unit 42](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/unit42/?ts=markdown) [#### The Case for Multidomain Visibility](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/10/case-for-multidomain-visibility/) ### [Company \& Culture](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/company-culture/?ts=markdown), [Points of View](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/points-of-view/?ts=markdown) [#### AI in OT Security --- Balancing Industrial Innovation and Cyber Risk](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/08/ai-in-ot-security/) ### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown) [#### AI's Offensive \& Defensive Impacts](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/05/ais-offensive-defensive-impacts/) ### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown), [Use-Cases](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/use-cases/?ts=markdown) [#### Rage Against the (IP Enabled) Machines: Using Attack Surface Management to Discover Exposed OT and ICS Systems](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/rage-against-the-ip-enabled-machines-using-attack-surface-management-to-discover-exposed-ot-and-ics-systems/) ### [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown), [Public Sector](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/public-sector/?ts=markdown) [#### Preparing for and Preventing an Inevitable Cyberattack](https://origin-researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/09/preventing-an-inevitable-cyberattack/) ### Subscribe to the Blog! 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