Heimdal Patch and Asset Management
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management is a managed patching and software visibility service for businesses and schools, supplied and managed by Black Swan Cyber Security Solutions. It helps keep Windows, macOS, Linux and supported third-party applications up to date, while showing you what software is installed, which versions are running, what has been successfully patched and what still needs attention.
Still chasing updates by hand? This is how you stop avoidable software gaps.
An update arrives while you’re busy, so it gets postponed. A laptop misses a restart. Meanwhile, the PDF reader nobody thinks about is several versions behind.
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management helps you keep operating systems and third-party applications updated, see what is actually on your devices, and schedule patching around the way your business works.
The aim is simple: fewer missed updates, better visibility, stronger evidence and less avoidable risk from software that should already have been patched.
With AI expected to speed up vulnerability discovery, patching cannot rely on hope, habit or the occasional manual check. It needs visibility, prioritisation and evidence.
No pressure. We’ll check whether patching is genuinely a gap, or whether another cyber security issue needs attention first.
Glitch & Black Swan explain
The fix was available. Glitch was glad you hadn’t installed it.
A security update can close a known weakness in software you use every day. Until it is installed, that weakness may still be there. Heimdal helps automate the updates; Black Swan helps you make patching work for your organisation.
Glitch
Quite happy to wait for that update
“Remind me tomorrow? Works for me.”
An old browser, a missed application update or a restart that never happened can leave a known security gap open. Glitch is counting on it slipping down the list for another week.
Black Swan Cyber
Your security partner
“Let’s get it updated and check it actually worked.”
Heimdal automates patching for supported operating systems and applications, with central visibility and scheduling. Black Swan helps you check what needs covering, agree update and restart schedules, and work with your IT team on failed updates or devices that need attention. We help you understand what is still outstanding and what to tackle first.
An update being scheduled is a start. Knowing it installed is what matters.
Heimdal provides the patching tools. Black Swan helps you put them to work and follow up on the gaps.
You cannot patch what you cannot see
Patch management does not start with the update button. It starts with knowing what devices you have, what software is installed, which versions are running, and which systems have dropped out of view.
If a laptop, server or application is not properly recorded, monitored or managed, it can quietly become an easy target. It may be missing updates, running unsupported software, or sitting outside the tools you rely on for protection.
Devices
Know which laptops, desktops and servers are still active, managed and checking in.
Software
See what is installed, which versions are running and where unwanted software may have appeared.
Updates
Check what is missing, what has failed and what still needs attention.
Evidence
Move from “we think it is updated” to clearer records that show what has actually happened.
Is Heimdal Patch & Asset Management the right fit?
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management is a good fit when you want patching, asset visibility and endpoint security to sit together rather than being handled as separate jobs.
When it makes sense
It works well for smaller organisations that need to patch Windows, macOS, Linux and third-party applications without relying on manual checks or staff remembering to update everything themselves.
When to compare alternatives
If you only want a standalone patching tool, it is worth comparing options. If you want patching as part of a wider cyber security stack, Heimdal becomes more interesting.
How pricing works
Pricing depends on the number of users, devices and the wider Heimdal modules you need. We can help you work out whether standalone patching, Nest Protect, Cygnet Shield or a stronger package is the best fit.
Why patch management matters
Hackers love old vulnerabilities because they are cheap and easy to exploit. Patch management helps close those gaps before they become an incident, an insurance problem or a Cyber Essentials failure.
Outdated software is one of the easiest ways attackers get in. Patch management helps reduce that risk by keeping operating systems, applications and security updates current, improving stability and cutting down the exposure that builds up when updates are missed.
Less avoidable risk
Security gaps caused by old software are reduced before they become a bigger problem.
Less manual chasing
Updates are not left to chance, memory or somebody finding time later.
Better visibility
You get a clearer view of what is installed, what version is running and what still needs attention.
Fewer interruptions
Updates can be scheduled around the business instead of disrupting the working day.
AI is making patching harder to ignore
The National Cyber Security Centre has warned organisations to prepare for a “vulnerability patch wave” as AI helps security researchers and attackers find weaknesses faster across old software, cloud services, legacy systems and internet-facing technology.
That does not mean panic. It means patching needs to become more visible, more regular and more risk-aware. The businesses that struggle most will be the ones still relying on spreadsheets, memory, manual checks and “we think it updated”.
More patches, more often
Organisations should be ready for a higher volume of updates across operating systems, third-party apps, cloud services and suppliers.
External systems first
Internet-facing systems need priority because they are easier for attackers to find and exploit when new vulnerabilities become public.
Legacy software becomes a bigger risk
Unsupported or end-of-life systems may not receive patches at all, which means they need replacing, upgrading or isolating.
Evidence matters
As patching becomes more frequent, you need clear records showing what has been updated, what failed and what still needs attention.
What Heimdal adds
Heimdal helps you patch more than just Windows. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux, covers hundreds of third-party applications, gives you better asset visibility, and lets you manage updates in a way that fits around the business instead of interrupting it.
Patch more than Windows
Cover operating systems plus the third-party apps people actually use every day, from browsers and PDF readers to conferencing and productivity tools.
Know what is really installed
See applications, versions, who is using them, and remove software you do not want hanging around.
Fit updates around your business
Schedule patching for evenings, weekends or quieter times, with rollback options if something needs reversing.
What about third-party application patching?
Many patching gaps are not in Windows itself. They sit in the everyday applications people use for browsing, documents, meetings, remote access and productivity.
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management helps manage updates for operating systems and a wide range of third-party applications, giving you better visibility over what is installed and what needs attention.
Browsers and common apps
Helps reduce gaps in the software staff use every day, including browsers, PDF tools, collaboration apps and other common business applications.
Better software visibility
Helps you see what is installed, which versions are running and where unsupported or unwanted software may be creating risk.
Less chasing
Helps move patching away from manual reminders and ad hoc checks towards a more consistent, managed process.
A–Z supported third-party applications
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management supports a wide range of common business applications, including browsers, PDF tools, developer tools, remote access software, productivity apps and specialist utilities.
Rather than expecting someone to check every application manually, Heimdal helps bring third-party application patching into a more visible, managed process.
Support can vary by version, installer type, language, operating system and vendor changes. If a specific application matters to your business, we can confirm support before recommending the service.
Supported apps
0 appsPatch management is not just automatic updates
Built-in automatic updates are helpful, but they do not always give you the full picture. They may not cover every third-party application, show failed updates clearly, remove unsupported software, or prove that every device is being maintained properly.
Automatic updates
Useful for some operating system and application updates, but often limited when you need reporting, scheduling, evidence and wider third-party software coverage.
Manual patching
Can work for a very small number of devices, but quickly becomes unreliable when people are busy, remote devices are involved or updates need checking properly.
Managed patching
Gives you a clearer process for what needs updating, what has been completed, what failed and what needs follow-up.
New to patch management or vulnerability prioritisation?
Heimdal Patch & Asset Management is one way to manage updates, but the bigger question is how small businesses should decide what to patch first, what can wait, and what evidence they need to keep.
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.
Understand the risk
Learn why a vulnerability score tells you how bad something could be, but not always whether attackers are actually using it against businesses like yours.
Prioritise properly
See why known exploited vulnerabilities, exposed systems, unsupported software and business context should all shape what gets fixed first.
Keep better evidence
Understand how patching supports Cyber Essentials, SMB1001, supplier assurance and insurance conversations.
How this works in practice
Keeping systems up to date sounds simple, but in reality updates get missed, delayed or fail quietly in the background. This is what a properly managed approach to patching actually looks like day to day.
We identify what needs patching
We get a clear view of your devices and software, so nothing important is missed or quietly left exposed.
We automate updates safely
Updates are rolled out in a controlled way, usually outside working hours, to avoid disruption to your team.
You get visibility and control
You can see what is updated, what is not, and where attention is needed without guessing or chasing reports.
What good patch management should cover
A patching tool is useful, but the process matters too. Someone still needs to know what is being patched, what needs testing, what failed, what has reached end of life, and what should happen next.
Ownership
There should be a clear person or provider responsible for reviewing patching, not just a tool running in the background.
Prioritisation
Known exploited vulnerabilities, exposed systems and high-risk applications should not be treated the same as low-risk updates.
External exposure
Internet-facing systems should be identified and patched quickly because they are the easiest systems for attackers to find.
Failed updates
Updates that fail need follow-up. Otherwise, reports can look busy while the actual risk stays in place.
Unsupported software
Old or unsupported applications need decisions, not endless postponement. Sometimes the answer is removal or replacement.
Patch capacity
Your process needs to cope with more frequent updates without turning every patch cycle into a fire drill.
What we often see
Most businesses assume updates are happening automatically. In reality, gaps build up over time across devices, third-party apps and remote systems.
Updates get delayed
Everyone means to do them, but other work keeps getting in the way.
No clear software inventory
Nobody is fully sure what is installed where, which versions are running, or whether something risky has slipped in.
Remote and hybrid devices get missed
Devices away from the office are easy to overlook if patching depends on old habits or manual checks.
Compliance feels harder than it should
When somebody asks for evidence, teams end up digging around instead of having a clear record ready.
One server had not been rebooted for nearly a year.
Updates had been downloading quite happily. None of them had actually been installed.
Sometimes the biggest vulnerability is assuming everything has already happened.
Why this matters for Cyber Essentials, SMB1001 and DfE standards
This is not about claiming one tool gives you compliance on its own. It is about supporting the controls and evidence behind it. Good patch management helps you show that software is maintained properly, devices are being looked after, and updates are not being left to chance.
Cyber Essentials
Supports update discipline, supported software, and better evidence that devices are being maintained properly.
SMB1001
Supports a more structured, defensible approach to asset visibility, patching and ongoing cyber hygiene.
DfE cyber security standards
Useful for schools and MATs that need to show patching is controlled, scheduled and not disrupting teaching time.
Who this is for
This is a good fit if:
- software updates are currently manual, inconsistent or easy to forget
- you want better visibility across business devices and installed software
- you need patching to work across office, remote or hybrid teams
- you want stronger support for Cyber Essentials, SMB1001 or DfE expectations
- you want patching to happen without constant chasing
- you want to know when updates fail, not assume they completed
- you want to spot unsupported or unwanted software more easily
This may not be the right fit if:
- you are happy relying on manual updates and ad hoc checks
- you do not need visibility over installed applications or versions
- you only want a basic antivirus product and nothing wider
- you expect patching alone to solve identity, email and recovery problems
What it works well with
Patch management is strongest when it sits inside a broader endpoint and cyber hygiene approach rather than on its own.
Heimdal Next-Gen Antivirus
Patch known gaps and strengthen endpoint protection at the same time.
Nest Protect
A lighter package that includes patching as part of the base security stack.
Cygnet Shield
A broader all-in-one package where patching supports a stronger everyday security baseline.
Swan Guard Pro
Includes patching in a wider stack designed for stronger protection and managed response.
Why local businesses choose us
Most of the businesses we support are based around Chesterfield, Sheffield and the surrounding areas. They are not looking for more admin or more dashboards. They want patching handled properly, software kept under control, and someone they can actually speak to when something needs sorting.
Close enough to support properly
Not just remote access and guesswork. We understand how local small businesses and schools actually operate, and we can support you in a way that feels practical rather than distant.
Security that fits real budgets
Most organisations do not need enterprise complexity. They need the right controls in the right places, with sensible advice on what matters now and what can wait.
Clear advice, less noise
We help you make patching, compliance and cyber hygiene easier to manage, without turning everything into a bigger project than it needs to be.
Want to know where the gaps are?
If patching feels inconsistent, visibility is poor, or you are not confident you could evidence what is up to date, a quick review is the best place to start. We can help you work out what is being missed, what matters most, and whether Heimdal Patch & Asset Management is the right fit.
Common questions
Because outdated software creates avoidable security gaps. Keeping systems current reduces exposure to known vulnerabilities and improves stability.
You cannot reliably patch software or devices you do not know about. Asset visibility helps show what exists, what is installed, which versions are running and where attention is needed.
Yes. Updates can be planned for evenings, weekends or quieter times, with rollback options if something causes an issue.
It supports Windows, macOS and Linux, and covers hundreds of third-party applications and drivers as well.
Yes. It helps you show that systems are up to date, software is being managed properly, and there is a clearer audit trail behind what is happening.
Built-in updates help, but they do not cover everything. Third-party apps, failed updates, unsupported software and missed devices can still leave gaps. Patch management brings everything into one place, so updates are consistent, visible and actually completed.
The NCSC has warned that AI may help uncover and exploit long-standing software weaknesses faster, creating a wave of new patches across software, cloud services and legacy systems. For smaller organisations, the practical answer is not panic. It is better visibility, faster prioritisation, managed patching and clearer evidence that updates are actually being applied.
No. Patching reduces one common and avoidable route in, but it does not replace email security, MFA, backup, identity protection, staff awareness or incident response.
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.