About Software Updates
A software update, often referred to as a patch, is a publicly released update to a software product that typically occurs between service packs. Typically, software updates are created and released expeditiously, in reaction to a specific issue. Many, if not most, software updates are released to correct security vulnerabilities. However, software updates also respond to other issues, such as improving performance, extending product functionality, and facilitating product interactions with newly released hardware or software.
Table 6.1 presents the varieties of software updates. In this chapter, the term software update is used generically to refer to all of these types of interim product releases.
Table 6.1 Varieties of Software Updates
Term |
Definition |
|---|---|
Security patch |
A publicly released fix that addresses a security issue for a specific product. |
Critical update |
A publicly released fix that addresses a critical, security related issue for a specific product. |
Update |
A publicly-released fix that addresses a non-critical, non-security related issue for a specific product; might include new design change requests to add new features or functionality. |
Update Rollup |
A cumulative set of security patches, critical updates, and updates packaged together for easy deployment. Usually contains all of the software updates for the product since the last service pack or product version release. |
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