Software updates can often seem like more of a hassle than they’re worth. If the software works well and you aren’t experiencing any problems, why spend the time and energy necessary to constantly download and upgrade to new versions? Especially when, in many cases, it can seem like the updates are insignificant.
As minor as these changes may seem to you, though, it’s highly important to keep your software updated as much as possible. You may be able to get by for a while with an outdated version, but this can lead to problems in the long run. We’ll explain:
Security
One of the major reasons to keep updating software is to ensure you stay up to date on the latest security enhancements. Software companies are continually tightening security for their products, resolving vulnerabilities, and protecting their clients against harmful attacks -- but the only way to keep reaping these benefits is to update regularly. Otherwise you may fall victim to a breach that would have otherwise been blocked or prevented by a security patch.
Bug Fixes
Even after plenty of software testing, pesky bugs can occasionally sneak through into the final product and cause issues. These bugs can range from annoying hindrances to harmful vulnerabilities that can be maliciously exploited (see the importance of security above). Updates that include bug fixes may not seem overly important, but putting off those updates may result in reduced efficiency as your team works around the bugs -- and potential exploits that can cost your organization.
New Features
Most software companies continue to update their software long after the initial release, adding new features and improving old ones over time. The only way these new features can get pushed out to existing users is if they update to the latest version. Your team may be able to muddle along with outdated tools, but wouldn’t you rather be using the most up-to-date resources to tackle your work? It may take a bit of time to get used to the changes, but software developers spend a lot of time thinking about how best to optimize their product so that users have the best experience possible. A short amount of change adjustment can lead to far greater efficiency over time.
Need help updating your Issuetrak site? If you’re a Cloud customer, every update already gets pushed to your site. For On-Premises customers, you can see the upgrade process at the bottom of our latest Release Notes. Or you can always reach out to our Support Team or your Account Manager for help at any time!
