Patching applications is the most costly security job that companies face, according to Microsoft's head of security.

Craig Fiebig, general manager of Microsoft's security business unit, said the firm would continue its policy of releasing software updates on Wednesdays, but admitted that providing reliable, easy-to-install patches was an issue.

Fiebig (pictured) also acknowledged the policy of patching was rendered less effective because of administrators' dislike of network downtime.

"It's the hardest one to solve," Fiebig told vnunet.com at InfoSecurity Europe. "In dollar terms, patching is the most expensive security measure and keeping your antivirus descriptions up to date is the least.

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