Glossary

Secure Patching and Update Access

Compliance and Regulations

What is Secure Patching and Update Access?

Secure patching and update access refers to the controlled and auditable process by which authorized users, typically administrators, engineers, or vendors, are granted temporary access to perform system updates, software patches, or firmware upgrades. This process is designed to minimize the risk of introducing vulnerabilities, ensure traceability of actions, and meet cybersecurity compliance standards, particularly in regulated or high-risk environments.

Why is Secure Patching and Update Access Important?

Regular patching and updates are essential for addressing known vulnerabilities and maintaining system integrity. However, in operational technology (OT), industrial control systems (ICS), and air-gapped networks, these activities can expose critical assets to unintended disruption or exploitation if not properly managed.

Regulatory standards such as IEC 62443-2-4, TSA SD02E, NERC CIP-007, NIS2, and the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) require organizations to:

Enforce authentication, authorization, and least privilege during update sessions.
Audit and log all patching activity, particularly when performed remotely.
Limit update access to approved systems, users, and time windows.
Maintain documentation of all software and firmware changes for compliance reporting.

Legacy tools like VPNs or jump servers often lack the fine-grained access control and session visibility needed to meet these standards, making them noncompliant for secure update workflows in critical environments.

How Does Xona Help with Secure Patching and Update Access?

Xona enables secure patching and update access through its browser-based, protocol-isolated access platform, allowing only authorized users to reach specific systems for maintenance and update tasks, without exposing the broader network. Access can be restricted by user role, system type, protocol, and time of day, ensuring that patch sessions align with predefined compliance policies.

Each session is fully recorded and logged, providing audit-ready evidence of who accessed what system, when, and what actions were taken. Xona supports credential injection, eliminating the need for users to know or handle privileged credentials during patching activities, reducing risk and simplifying compliance with access control mandates.

This approach enables critical infrastructure operators to perform essential updates securely, efficiently, and in full alignment with applicable cybersecurity and compliance standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cybersecurity standards mandate secure patching and update access controls?

Standards such as IEC 62443, NERC CIP, TSA SD02E, NIS2, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) require secure, auditable access for software updates and patching activities in critical environments.

Why is secure update access a challenge in OT and air-gapped networks?

Unlike IT environments, OT systems often lack modern access controls and may operate in air-gapped or low-connectivity conditions, making traditional patching methods risky or noncompliant without secure, temporary access solutions.

What should a compliant patching access workflow include?

It should enforce MFA, role-based and time-bound access, session recording, critical system credential injection, secure file transfer with approval workflows, and full audit logging of any actions taken during patching sessions.

How does Xona enable secure and compliant access for patching and updates?

Xona allows authorized users to access designated systems via protocol-isolated browser sessions, with strict time, role, and protocol controls, while also logging and recording every session for audit and compliance purposes. Xona also enables secure file transfer for software patches with optional file scanning and approval workflows.

Can Xona eliminate the need for shared credentials during patching workflows?

Yes, Xona uses credential injection for target systems so that users never see or manage passwords, reducing the risk of credential exposure, misuse, or storage outside of policy.

How does Xona improve audit readiness for software update and patching events?

Xona captures complete session log metadata and video recordings of each patching session, which can be exported for compliance reporting, incident response, or internal governance reviews.