What's a "tempting delay"? Who writes these things? Either you CANNOT due to whatever reason, or you CAN, which means you will. If you CANNOT, then you better have a risk assessment ready and a very good reason why, ie legacy systems, etc.

Delaying a security update is risky and should be avoided. Security updates typically fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cybercriminals or malicious actors. By delaying them, you expose your system to potential threats, such as malware, ransomware, or data breaches. The risks of compromising your data can be significant and might result in: Loss of personal or sensitive information (e.g., passwords, financial details, PII information, and many more). Financial damage from fraud or identity theft. System downtime or functionality issues caused by malware or other attacks. Reputation damage if the breach involves personal, customer, or business data.

Effective vulnerability management requires a well-rounded, multi-pronged approach. Some updates may have no immediate impact, others might pose risks if not applied urgently, and some need to be deferred until dependencies are resolved. A leadership council with both departmental influence and technical expertise is essential for balancing these decisions, ensuring updates are prioritized appropriately. This approach includes not only remediation but also proactive measures to prevent compromise. Temporary safeguards like network segmentation, isolation, and enhanced monitoring should be implemented to protect systems until updates are fully deployed.

Delaying a security update can seem convenient, but it significantly increases the risk of exposing your data to vulnerabilities. Even a small gap in your defenses can be exploited by cybercriminals, leading to potential data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. Prioritising and promptly applying security updates is crucial to protecting your sensitive information and maintaining overall cybersecurity. It's not worth the risk to delay.