The process of applying updates to software to fix vulnerabilities is called what?

• A. Upgrading
• B. Patching/Updating
• C. Hardening
• D. Deployment

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is how software flaws are fixed through fixes rather than feature changes. The standard term for applying these fixes is patching, often described as updating. Patches are small changes that address specific security vulnerabilities without moving to a whole new version of the software. This is distinct from upgrading, which means moving to a newer major version with new features; hardening, which involves tightening security configurations and controls; and deployment, which is the process of distributing and installing software (which can include patches, but doesn’t itself describe the act of fixing vulnerabilities).