PatchPolitiken

PatchPolitiken is a nonprofit advocacy organization and think tank focused on software patch management and cybersecurity policy. Founded in the early 2010s by a coalition of technologists, policy researchers, and civil society actors in Europe, it aims to bridge technical and policymaking communities around vulnerability remediation and software supply chain integrity.

The organization promotes transparent patching policies for both public and private sectors, stronger vulnerability disclosure norms, and procurement practices that prioritize timely remediation. It conducts research, publishes policy briefs, and coordinates with national computer emergency response teams, government ministries, and industry groups. PatchPolitiken also hosts conferences and runs campaigns to raise awareness of patching risks and best practices.

Governance is provided by a board of directors and an advisory council, with active working groups on public procurement, critical infrastructure resilience, and open-source governance. Funding comes from a mix of government grants, foundation support, and member contributions, with annual transparency reports published to disclose sources and allocations.

Impact and reception vary. PatchPolitiken has influenced policy discussions in several European jurisdictions, contributing to guidelines on patch management and vulnerability disclosure. Critics argue that certain proposed standards could impose regulatory burdens on smaller vendors or create inconsistent requirements across sectors. Proponents credit the organization with improving cybersecurity readiness and accountability in software maintenance.

See also: Vulnerability management, Software supply chain security, Open-source governance.