Which term describes the practice of keeping software up to date to mitigate vulnerabilities?

• A. Licensing
• B. Patching/Updating
• C. USB locks
• D. Device use best practices

Answer: (B)

Keeping software up to date through patches and updates reduces exposure to known vulnerabilities by fixing security flaws that attackers could exploit. When vendors discover weaknesses or respond to new threats, they release patches to correct the code. Regularly applying these patches shortens the window of opportunity for attackers and helps preserve the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of systems. This practice is a fundamental part of vulnerability management and security hygiene, since updates can address both existing flaws and newly discovered threats. Licensing concerns relate to rights to use software, USB locks protect physical access, and device use best practices cover general secure behavior; none of these directly ensures software vulnerabilities are mitigated like patching does.