Why OTA Firmware Updates Are Important

Android devices are reliable solutions for both customers and industries due to their configuration flexibility. The open-source solution became the base of most common devices, enhancing a demanded technology and competing with some of the best open-source products, such as Linux. 

Unfortunately, more popularity leads to an increase in cybersecurity attacks. Hackers considerably developed their practices in recent years, for which Android needed to keep up with updates and fixtures to continue supporting industries. Therefore, the advancement of OTA firmware updates became necessary. Here’s why. 

What Are OTA Updates, And Why Are They Important?

OTA (over-the-air) firmware updates help embedded systems, such as mobile phones and tablets, perform upgrades remotely and seamlessly to strengthen the device’s digital security and secure personal data. Briefly, the OTA update covers the following concerns:

1. Enhance the Device’s Security Protocol

With time, virtual threats are popping up, and always look for a way to hamper your personal belongings. And our devices are the most vulnerable in this case. But with an OTA firmware update, this thing can be mitigated quickly. The OTA allows you to receive updates without being physically plugged in. 

And if your device’s firmware has any vulnerability then the manufacturer can easily develop and release security updates within a short time. And for having the OTA firmware update, you can use the patch to enhance the security and protect the data of your devices. With the help of it, the manufacturer can provide security patches frequently which will keep your device more secure and safe. 

2. Budget Friendly Maintenance

With the help of OTA updates, you can minimize in-person maintenance costs which can save money. You won’t need any field services as you are getting the updates wirelessly and can manage them by yourself.

If you choose Manually over OTA, you will need to pay for updating your devices several times in a year as the updates may need multiple phases to complete. But with the OTA update, you can do that by yourself and the technician charge will be reduced as well. With OTA, your time, and money will be reduced and it can hugely simplify maintenance at scale.

3. Device Development and Update Flexibility

With the patch updates, it not only updates security but also updates the device. With the OTA firmware updates, if your device has any bugs, it will fix it as well as it will add new features to your device. Moreover, with OTA updates, you can have more features. As a result, the device’s behavior will be improved. 

OTA firmware updates usually occur automatically, as most devices already have this feature. But when it comes to industrial companies and different needs, Emteria offers a solution for OTA firmware updates. Find out more here.

What happens if OTA updates are not operated at the right time? 

OTA firmware updates enable devices with an internet connection to minimize risks and mitigate information security. Without these updates, devices, and systems are more exposed to malicious access and data leakage than Android ones equipped with OTA updates. 

These upgrades are also necessary because they strengthen the device’s lifespan ―otherwise, it will become outdated, and its capacity to be used will decrease. Therefore, OTA updates provide cost-efficient and qualitative improvements to Android systems. 

Is it more efficient to build or buy OTA firmware updates?

While buying an OTA firmware solution is the easiest path, you can build your own system and deploy it on all devices. However, you must consider the invested resources required for a successful update. 

For example, the total cost of ownership (TOC) includes the expenses of acquisition, deployment operations, and device maintenance. Although it may seem cheaper to begin with, the TOC might change depending on the type of device and the number of updates deployed. At the same time, developing for scale requires more costly and complex solutions. You must take decisions on building, hosting, and installing processes and tackle the challenges of automation, support, cloud storage, and authentication. 

On the other hand, solutions like Emetria provide great results for different devices that need custom updates and installments. 

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Does OTA update wipe data?

No, the OTA update doesn’t wipe data. The data and the existing app will be there after the OTA update. But if there is a major OTA update then it might affect the installed applications.

What are the different types of OTA updates?

There are two types of OTA updates that can be seen. One is Software Over The Air or SOTA and the other one is Firmware Over the Air or FOTA.

Bottom line 

Android, one of the most popular and required open-source solutions, faces security risks as more devices and systems acquire it. Luckily, any industrial device or program can increase cybersecurity and its lifecycle by implementing OTA firmware updates, leading to cost-efficient and reliable machines.