AI is accelerating vulnerability discovery, making proactive patching and technology lifecycle management more important than ever.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities are being discovered at an increasingly rapid pace. Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping security researchers identify weaknesses in software and code, but it can also help attackers find potential entry points and develop more sophisticated attacks.
For businesses, this creates an urgent need to keep systems updated, address known vulnerabilities, and retire outdated technology before it becomes a significant security risk.
What Are CVEs?
CVE stands for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures. A CVE is a standardized identifier assigned to a publicly disclosed cybersecurity vulnerability. These vulnerabilities can affect virtually any technology, including operating systems, business applications, network devices, cloud platforms, and third-party software.
The volume of reported vulnerabilities has increased significantly in recent years:
| Year | Approximate CVE records |
| 2023 | 28,800 |
| 2024 | 40,000 |
| 2025 | 48,200 |
| 2026 YTD | Over 87,000 |
AI-assisted discovery is one factor contributing to this growth, alongside increased security research and reporting. Regardless of the cause, more disclosed vulnerabilities mean IT teams must continually evaluate their exposure and prioritize remediation.
Microsoft Patch Releases Highlight the Challenge
The growing number of vulnerabilities is also reflected in Microsoft’s monthly security updates. In September 2026, Microsoft addressed approximately 964 CVEs. In October, that number climbed to approximately 1,407, according to reporting. For comparison, the October 2025 update addressed roughly 175 CVEs.
These updates affect widely used business technologies, including Windows, Office, SharePoint, and SQL Server. The scale of these releases demonstrates why organizations cannot rely on occasional updates or wait until a security issue becomes urgent.
Not every vulnerability presents the same level of risk. Organizations should prioritize patches based on severity, active exploitation, system exposure, and business impact, while testing updates appropriately to maintain operational stability.
Patching Is Only Part of the Solution
Regular patching helps close known security gaps, but it is only effective when organizations understand what technology they have and maintain a consistent update process.
A proactive approach should include:
- Maintain an inventory: Identify operating systems, applications, devices, and software dependencies across the environment.
- Prioritize and apply updates: Establish patching schedules and expedited procedures for critical vulnerabilities.
- Verify remediation: Confirm patches install successfully and document any outstanding issues.
- Retire unsupported systems: Replace outdated technology that no longer receives security updates, or implement appropriate compensating controls while planning its retirement.
Legacy systems deserve particular attention. When vendors end support for a product, newly discovered vulnerabilities may remain unpatched. Although replacing older systems can be challenging, delaying modernization indefinitely can leave businesses exposed to avoidable risks.
Is Your IT Environment Keeping Up?
AI is changing the cybersecurity landscape, but the fundamentals remain the same: organizations need visibility into their technology, timely security updates, and a plan for replacing outdated systems.
PTC helps businesses manage and maintain their IT environments through managed IT services, infrastructure and security support, and technology guidance.
Contact PTC to discuss your IT security, patch management, and technology lifecycle needs.