L2 Patch Management Specialist - WSUS/SCCM

Patch Management Specialist - L2 Job Description: As a Patch Management Specialist at Level 2, you will be responsible for overseeing the patch management lifecycle, from assessment and testing to deployment and verification.

You will work closely with Level 1 support teams, system administrators, and security analysts to ensure timely and effective patching of systems and applications.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background, experience in patch management processes, and proficiency in relevant tools and technologies.

Key Responsibilities: Patch Assessment and Analysis: - Monitor vendor releases and security advisories to identify patches and updates relevant to the organization's infrastructure and applications.

- Conduct risk assessments and impact analyses to prioritize patching activities based on severity, criticality, and business impact.

- Collaborate with security teams to assess vulnerabilities and define remediation strategies for patching critical security flaws.

Patch Testing and Validation: - Develop and maintain test environments to simulate production configurations for patch testing.

- Coordinate with application owners and business stakeholders to schedule and execute patch testing activities.

- Perform functional and regression testing to validate patch compatibility, stability, and performance before deployment.

Patch Deployment and Verification: - Plan and coordinate patch deployment activities across servers, workstations, and network devices using automated patch management tools.

- Implement change management processes to schedule patching windows, communicate maintenance activities, and minimize disruption to business operations.

- Verify and validate patch installations to ensure successful implementation and resolution of identified vulnerabilities.

Incident and Problem Management: - Respond to incidents related to patching failures, compatibility issues, or system disruptions, troubleshooting and resolving issues in a timely manner.

- Document root cause analysis and lessons learned from patch-related incidents, contributing to continuous improvement of patch management processes.

- Escalate complex or critical issues to Level 3 support or vendor support teams for further investigation and resolution.

Documentation and Reporting: - Maintain accurate records of patching activities, including patch inventories, deployment schedules, and verification results.

- Generate regular reports and metrics on patch compliance, vulnerability status, and remediation progress for management review.

- Document standard operating procedures (SOPs), best practices, and guidelines for patch management processes and Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.

- 4-7 years of experience in IT infrastructure management, with a focus on patch management and system administration.

- Strong proficiency in patch management tools such as Microsoft WSUS, SCCM, or similar solutions.

- Experience with vulnerability management tools and techniques, including vulnerability scanning and assessment.

- Knowledge of ITIL principles and practices, particularly in the areas of change management and incident management.

- Familiarity with scripting languages (e.

g., PowerShell, Python) for automation and task scheduling is a plus.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

(ref:hirist.tech)