Action1 Patch Management
Patching That Just Works!
Patch the gaps before attackers find them first.
Action1 helps small businesses, schools, care providers and growing teams keep devices patched, visible and under control without relying on manual checks, spreadsheets or crossed fingers.
Action1 offers a free tier for up to 200 endpoints, which can be a useful way to get proper patch management in place quickly. We help make sure it is set up properly and actually used, rather than becoming another tool that gets ignored.
Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions helps you put Action1 to work properly, so patch management becomes a managed security process rather than another dashboard nobody has time to check.
Action1 helps you answer the questions that matter.
- Which devices are missing critical updates?
- Which third-party apps are creating avoidable risk?
- Which vulnerabilities need dealing with first?
- Can we patch remote devices without waiting for them to be in the office?
- Can we prove patching is happening when insurers, auditors or clients ask?
You cannot patch what you cannot see.
Patch management does not start with the update button. It starts with knowing which devices exist, what software is installed, which versions are running, and which systems have quietly dropped out of view.
If a laptop, server or application is not properly recorded, monitored or reviewed, it can become an easy target. It may be missing updates, running unsupported software, or sitting outside the tools you rely on for protection.
Know what exists
See which endpoints are active, managed and checking in, rather than relying on old lists or assumptions.
Know what is installed
Get visibility over installed applications, versions and software that may need updating, removing or replacing.
Know what failed
Spot missing or failed updates so they can be followed up instead of quietly leaving risk behind.
Know what to prove
Use clearer reporting when clients, insurers, Cyber Essentials assessors or internal teams ask what is being patched.
Patching is not glamorous. It is still one of the jobs attackers hope you forget.
Many cyber incidents do not start with a genius hacker in a hoodie. They start with an old browser, an unpatched application, a forgotten laptop, or a known vulnerability that stayed open for too long.
That is why patch management matters. It reduces the easy routes in. It helps with Cyber Essentials. It supports cyber insurance conversations. It gives business owners and IT teams a clearer view of where the weak spots are.
Action1 is designed to make that easier by bringing patching, vulnerability visibility, software deployment, remote access and reporting into a cloud-based platform.
What Action1 does
OS and third-party updates
Patch Windows, macOS, Linux and common third-party applications from a central console, helping reduce the risk from known vulnerabilities.
See what needs attention
Get clearer reporting on missing patches, vulnerable software, endpoint status and compliance so decisions are based on evidence, not guesswork.
Manage devices from anywhere
Support remote and hybrid teams without needing every device to be sat in the office or connected to the old network.
Automatic updates help. They are not a patch management process.
Built-in automatic updates are useful, but they do not always cover everything. They may miss third-party applications, unsupported software, failed installs, remote devices, or machines that have not checked in for weeks.
Automatic updates
Helpful for some updates, but limited when you need visibility, reporting, scheduling and proof that updates actually completed.
Manual patching
Can work for a tiny number of devices, but quickly becomes unreliable when staff are busy, remote working is involved or updates need checking.
Managed patching
Gives you a clearer process for what needs updating, what has completed, what failed and what needs follow-up.
Patch management is not just an update problem.
It is a visibility, ownership and evidence problem. Action1 can help with the tooling. We help turn the tooling into a practical process.
New to patch management or vulnerability prioritisation?
Action1 can help you manage patches, see missing updates and keep better evidence. But many small businesses still need a simple way to understand what should be patched first, what can wait, and why some vulnerabilities matter more than others.
We have put together a plain-English guide to patch management for small businesses, including what CVSS scores do and do not tell you, why known exploited vulnerabilities matter, and how to prioritise patching without getting overwhelmed.
CVSS is useful, but limited
A vulnerability score tells you how bad something could be. It does not always tell you whether attackers are actually using it against businesses like yours.
Prioritise the real risk
Known exploited vulnerabilities, exposed devices, unsupported software and business context should all shape what gets fixed first.
Keep better evidence
Good patch management supports Cyber Essentials, SMB1001, supplier assurance and cyber insurance conversations.
Action1 is the tool. The guide explains the process.
Action1 can help you patch and report. The patch management guide explains how small businesses can decide what to fix first, what evidence to keep, and how patching fits into wider cyber security.
What we often see
Businesses usually know patching is important. The problem is keeping it consistent when there are staff laptops, home workers, shared machines, servers, third-party apps and day-to-day support tickets all fighting for attention.
The result is a quiet build-up of avoidable risk.
- Devices that only get patched when someone remembers.
- Third-party apps missed because Windows Update does not cover everything.
- No clear reporting when an insurer asks about patching.
- Remote laptops that fall behind because they are rarely on-site.
- Critical vulnerabilities buried in a long list with no clear priority.
- Cyber Essentials evidence gathered in a rush at renewal time.
- Old software still installed because nobody knows who uses it.
- Updates that download but never actually install because a reboot never happens.
How Black Swan helps
Buying a patch management tool is the easy bit. The value comes from setting it up properly, making sure it fits your risk, and turning the information into action.
We help you get visibility first
Before talking about policies and schedules, we help you understand what devices and applications are present, where the obvious gaps are, and what needs prioritising.
We help you avoid patching chaos
Not every update should be fired out blindly. We help build sensible patching processes that balance security, uptime and operational impact.
We support compliance conversations
Action1 can help provide useful reporting for Cyber Essentials, insurance reviews, supplier assurance and internal governance.
We connect it to wider security
Patching works best alongside endpoint protection, identity monitoring, email security, staff awareness and reliable backup. We help you join the dots.
What good patch management should include
A tool can show what needs fixing, but someone still needs to own the process. Without ownership, patching can become another report that gets generated but not acted on.
Who reviews it?
Someone needs to check the reports, chase failures and make sure patching does not drift.
What matters first?
Known exploited vulnerabilities, exposed devices and business-critical systems need clear priority.
When do updates run?
Patch schedules should fit the business, with sensible handling for restarts, failed updates and exceptions.
Can you prove it?
Good reporting helps when clients, insurers, auditors or Cyber Essentials assessors ask for evidence.
Who Action1 is a good fit for
Good fit
- Small businesses with remote or hybrid staff.
- Schools and MATs wanting stronger patch visibility.
- Care providers handling sensitive client information.
- Businesses preparing for Cyber Essentials or cyber insurance.
- IT teams that need practical patch reporting without heavy infrastructure.
- Organisations that want to take advantage of the free tier for up to 200 endpoints.
Not the right fit on its own
- If you need a full managed detection and response service.
- If you expect patching alone to stop every cyber attack.
- If nobody will review reports or act on what it finds.
- If you already use multiple Heimdal modules, Heimdal Patch & Asset Management may be a better fit as part of a more joined-up approach.
Important: patch management is not a silver bullet.
Action1 helps close known security gaps. That matters. But patching should sit inside a wider cyber security approach that includes endpoint protection, identity security, email protection, staff training, backup and response planning.
Action1 or Heimdal Patch & Asset Management?
Both can support patch management, but the right choice depends on what you are trying to solve.
Action1 may suit you better if:
- you want a focused patch management platform
- you want to use the free tier for up to 200 endpoints
- you need practical patching and reporting without a wider endpoint security bundle
- you want better visibility over remote or hybrid devices
Heimdal may suit you better if:
- you want patching as part of a wider Heimdal security stack
- you already use Heimdal NGAV, DNS, ransomware encryption protection or MXDR
- you want fewer separate tools to manage
- you are looking at one of our Nest Protect, Cygnet Shield or Swan Guard Pro packages
We can help you compare both options honestly. Sometimes Action1 is the practical answer. Sometimes Heimdal fits better because patching is only one part of a wider endpoint security problem.
Where patching sits in the bigger picture
Heimdal NGAV
Next-generation antivirus to help block malware, scripts and suspicious activity.
Managed EDRHuntress EDR
24/7 managed detection and response for endpoints that need human oversight.
Identity SecurityHuntress ITDR
Spot suspicious Microsoft 365 identity activity before it turns into a breach.
RecoveryMicrosoft 365 Backup
Protect email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams data from deletion and compromise.
Action1 Patch Management FAQs
Is Action1 just for large businesses?
No. Action1 can be a strong fit for smaller organisations that need better patching, clearer reporting and more control over remote devices without building heavy infrastructure.
Is Action1 really free for up to 200 endpoints?
Action1 offers a free tier for up to 200 endpoints. That can make it a very practical option for small businesses, schools and charities that want to improve patching without immediately adding more software cost.
Does Action1 patch third-party applications?
Yes. One of the main reasons businesses look at Action1 is to help manage third-party application updates as well as operating system patches.
Why are automatic updates not enough?
Automatic updates help, but they do not always cover third-party applications, failed updates, unsupported software, remote devices or reporting. Patch management gives you a clearer process and better evidence.
Can Action1 help with Cyber Essentials?
Yes. Patch management is a key part of Cyber Essentials. Action1 can help identify missing updates and provide useful evidence that patching is being managed.
Does Action1 replace antivirus or EDR?
No. Action1 helps reduce known vulnerabilities through patching and remediation. Antivirus, EDR and managed threat detection still play a different role.
Can Black Swan manage Action1 for us?
Yes. We can help with setup, review, reporting, patching processes and how Action1 fits into your wider cyber security plan.
Ready to get patching under control?
If patching feels like one of those jobs that always gets pushed to next week, this is a good place to start.
We help businesses in Chesterfield, Sheffield, Derbyshire and across the UK put practical patch management in place without making cyber security feel bigger than it needs to be.
Meet Kevin: Founder of Black Swan
Concerned about cyber security? Need advice or a tailor-made quote? Kevin is here to help you!
From actionable advice to helping you to see where you could be at risk, Kevin will help you to get your business on a path that is secure-by-design and ready for the unthinkable.
Ready to replace sleepless nights with peace of mind? It all starts with an informal chat!
Either schedule a call by selecting a suitable date and time on the calendar or by clicking the button below to send us a message.
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