PC Load Letter. The “Check Engine” light of the HP LaserJet II, III, and IV models. This message was supposed to mean Paper Cassette Load Letter and indicate that there was no letter sized paper in the Paper Cassette. What it actually meant was both everything and nothing. It could’ve meant that the manual paper tray was open, empty, had the wrong paper, or like all electronics, needed to be rebooted.
This “error message” became very popular in the movie Office Space. Office Space, at a high level, was about a bunch of software engineers working for a fictional company, Initech, to prepare for the “2000 switch.” If you don’t remember the horrific Y2K scare of the late 1990’s, many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits, making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. Computer systems' inability to distinguish dates correctly had the potential to bring down worldwide infrastructures for computer reliant industries.
In the movie, engineers worked to patch the applications they had built to avoid the potential disaster that ultimately never happened. Here are some lessons from the movie:
- Proactive Approach: Automated patch management ensures that systems are updated in a timely manner, preventing the kind of last-minute rush experienced during Y2K.
- Consistency and Reliability: Just as Y2K required a uniform solution across all systems, automated patch management ensures consistent updates across all enterprise assets.
- Reduced Risk of Human Error: The manual checks and updates leading up to Y2K were prone to human error. Automation significantly reduces this risk.
- Security: Regular updates patch vulnerabilities, a crucial aspect in an era where cyber threats are more sophisticated than ever.
Cyber defenders face ongoing battles against attackers seeking to exploit vulnerabilities for unauthorized access. Key to their strategy is maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence, and proactively scanning their systems to preempt attacks. Vulnerability management is an ongoing task that requires diligent focus and resources.
CIS Safeguard 7.4 emphasizes the importance of implementing automated patch management for applications, in addition to operating systems. Applications and platforms, much like operating systems, require regular updates to address vulnerabilities and enhance functionality. These patches, ideally updated monthly, are critical for maintaining security and performance. Often, organizations can use the same patch management solutions for operating systems and applications, streamlining the update process, and ensuring that all critical software components are consistently protected against known vulnerabilities. By automating this process, organizations can ensure timely updates, reduce the risk of human error, and maintain a strong defense against potential security breaches.
Here’s a link to the Vulnerability Management Policy Template provided free of charge from the fine folks at the Center for Internet Security: https://www.cisecurity.org/insights/white-papers/vulnerability-management-policy-template-for-cis-control-7
Here are some details on this specific Control/Safeguard. If you want more info, DM me.
CIS Control 7 – Continuous Vulnerability Management
Develop processes and technical controls to identify, classify, securely handle, retain, and dispose of data.
Implementation Group 1
CIS Safeguard 7.4 - Perform Automated Application Patch Management
Perform application updates on enterprise assets through automated patch management on a monthly, or more frequent, basis.