The Importance of OTA Updates for Industrial IoT Devices

Gartner definesover-the-air(OTA) as the ability to download applications, services and settings via a mobile network or phone. It is literally an update sent "over the air"; a mechanism to remotely and wirelessly update internet-connected hardware with new software and/or firmware configurations.

Thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), more and more devices are connected to the Internet, and it is important that they remain secure, especially in industrial environments. A security breach can put IIoT (IoT as it is known in industrial sectors) implementations at risk.

The ability of an IoT device to receive OTA updates is essential for resolving vulnerabilities . This type of update provides technology device manufacturers, system integrators and IoT solution operators with the means to implement new functionality in their products over time, as well as to fix any vulnerabilities in the device.

OTA updates act immediately to maintain the robustness of the implementation and ensure data protection.

In line with this, in our recent study on Industrial Edge Computing, we observed that the biggest concern that companies have when developing projects in the field of IoT and Edge Computing is precisely Cybersecurity and Data Privacy. (You can see more details in our report, the Industrial Edge Computing Barometer).

Recommended reading:

Vulnerabilities in the industrial environment. The industrial cybersecurity crisis.

OTA updates also reduce maintenance costs. The implementation of an update can be done in stages, and there is no limit to how many can be released per year. By offering a tested and ready-to-launch service, and releasing new features via OTA when bugs are fixed, time is saved in the programming process.

It is not feasible to update devices released to the public through the traditional method (connecting each embedded device to a wired PC). The costs would be so high that there is a risk of missing out on critical security updates, bug fixes or the newest product features.

OTA services must be fast, secure and easy to use.They allow devices to be updated individually or as a group with a single click. But delivering such updates is not simple because it involves a number of competencies, such as managing different firmware versions so that an update failure does not disable the device, or that the update does not use all available bandwidth. And, of course, that an urgent upgrade is done in a timely manner. All of this becomes more complex as the number of devices connected to the same commercial network increases.

If you are interested in cybersecurity do not miss our publication on IoT device security .

To send OTA updates, you need a device management system that can interface with local IoT device microprocessors and software. This is difficult to set up, as few companies have an IoT software and hardware ecosystem that can process such updates and manage remote devices.

Things to keep in mind when designing OTAs for IoT.

1. Version recovery: A failed upgrade should be able to be reverted so that the device remains on the latest stable version and is not disabled.

2. Version verification: It is essential to verify the source of the OTA so that devices only accept updates from a trusted and verified source that has not been modified along the way.

3. Code compatibility: For devices that support multiple architectures it is recommended to first confirm that the image received is suitable for that architecture before starting the upgrade process. Otherwise, it may be impossible to recover those devices.

4. Secure communications: All updates must be made through encrypted communication channels.

5. Partial updates: In this way, bandwidth consumption and device processing time are reduced.

Recommended Reading: Industrial Cybersecurity and Edge Computing

Benefits of OTA updates

Incremental OTAs enable continuous improvement of devices even after they are in consumers' hands

1. Increase functionality through upgrades to one or more devices.

2. Save costs by managing software updates from a remote platform.

3. OTAs allow security vulnerabilities to be corrected quickly.

4 Increases scalability by adding new functionalities and infrastructure to the products after launch.

Devices running Barbara OS always have access to the latest OTA updates to keep their systems up to date and avoid vulnerabilities. In our team's years of experience managing and updating device network deployments, we have learned how best to address the needs of each deployment.

If you are looking for solutions to digitize your industrial equipment safely. Request a personalized demo!

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