Linux kernel vulnerabilities are discovered regularly—and traditionally, fixing them requires rebooting the server. For a web host, that means scheduled downtime, interrupted services, and coordination headaches.
KernelCare eliminates this problem. It applies kernel security patches while the server is running, with zero downtime and no service interruption.
Why This Matters for Your Website
You probably don't think about Linux kernels—and you shouldn't have to. But kernel vulnerabilities can be serious, and unpatched servers are targets. The traditional fix-or-reboot tradeoff forced hosting providers to choose between security and uptime.
With KernelCare on our infrastructure:
- Security patches deploy automatically – New patches are checked every 4 hours and applied immediately
- No scheduled maintenance windows – Your site isn't taken offline for kernel updates
- No service interruption – Patches apply in nanoseconds without affecting running processes
How Live Patching Works
Instead of replacing the kernel and rebooting, KernelCare patches the running kernel in memory:
- New secure code is loaded into allocated kernel memory
- Running processes are frozen for a fraction of a second
- Vulnerable kernel functions are redirected to the patched code
- Processes resume—typically before any request times out
This happens transparently. Your website visitors and applications never notice.
Part of Our Security Stack
KernelCare is one component of the security infrastructure protecting your hosting environment:
- Imunify360 – Malware scanning, WAF, intrusion detection
- Dual-Layer WAF – Application-level firewall protection
- KernelCare – Rebootless kernel security patches
All three are developed by CloudLinux and work together to provide enterprise-grade protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything to benefit from KernelCare?
No. KernelCare runs at the server level and is fully managed by WebOps. Security patches are applied automatically without any action on your part.
Will my site ever go down for kernel updates?
Not for kernel security patches. KernelCare handles those without downtime. Major OS upgrades (rare) may still require planned maintenance, but routine security patching happens continuously in the background.
How quickly are vulnerabilities patched?
KernelCare checks for new patches every 4 hours. When a patch is available, it's applied immediately—typically within hours of a vulnerability being publicly disclosed.
Questions about server security? Contact support.
