Without proper over-the-air (OTA) update capability, you’re facing a nightmare scenario: product recalls, manual update procedures, or worse, leaving vulnerable devices in the field because updating them isn’t feasible.
The Afterthought Problem
We see this pattern repeatedly: teams focus on getting their product to launch, treating OTA updates as something to add later. By the time they realise it’s essential, their architecture makes it difficult or impossible to implement properly.
OTA updates aren’t a nice-to-have feature. They’re fundamental to any connected device that needs to remain secure and functional throughout its lifecycle. Yet they’re often overlooked in standard embedded Linux offerings, leaving companies struggling to patch together solutions after deployment.
What Proper OTA Actually Means
A robust OTA system isn’t just about pushing files to devices. It needs to handle:
Full security hardening – We implement comprehensive security measures, from secure boot chains through to runtime protection, making systems resistant to attacks.
Over-the-air upgrade capability – Critical for field updates and long-term maintenance, using proven solutions like Mender or SW Update with Hawkbit.
Extensible architecture – Built to evolve with your product needs, not constrain them.
Complete technical support – Including automated build servers, CI system integration, and ongoing specialist guidance.
Industry-standard development practices – Using Yocto's approach means your platform is maintainable by your team and compatible with best practices used across the industry.
The Security Imperative
Security vulnerabilities will be discovered. That’s not pessimism, it’s reality in any connected system. The question isn’t whether you’ll need to patch devices in the field, but how quickly and reliably you can do it when the time comes.
We’ve worked on systems where security updates need to reach devices within days, not months.
Without proper OTA infrastructure, this simply isn’t possible. And in sectors like medical devices, industrial control, or smart energy, the consequences of unpatched vulnerabilities can be significant.
Getting It Right From the Start
Our approach integrates OTA capability from the beginning of platform development. Using proven solutions like Mender or SW Update with Hawkbit, we build systems where updates are:
Tested as part of your standard development workflow
Deployed reliably across your device fleet
Monitored for success or failure
Managed through proper version control
Beyond Just Updates
Proper OTA infrastructure enables more than emergency patches. It supports:
Feature rollouts – Add functionality to devices already in the field, extending product value over time.
A/B testing – Deploy changes to subsets of your device population to validate improvements before full rollout.
Long-term support – Maintain devices for their full operational lifetime, which in embedded systems can span a decade or more.
Customer confidence – Knowing you can address issues remotely gives both you and your customers peace of mind.
The Rufilla Difference
We don’t treat OTA as an add-on feature to be bolted on later. It’s part of our production-ready platform approach from day one. When we create an embedded Linux system, it includes comprehensive OTA capability as standard.
More importantly, we transfer the knowledge your team needs to manage updates effectively. This includes setting up automated build servers, integrating with CI systems, and establishing workflows that make updates routine rather than risky.
We’ve implemented OTA systems across diverse sectors, from smart energy devices updating in homes across the country to precision instruments in laboratories worldwide. This experience means we understand not just the technical implementation, but the operational realities of managing device fleets in production.
Planning for the Long Term
Products in the field need support for years, sometimes decades. OTA capability isn’t just about convenience, it’s about ensuring your devices remain secure, functional, and valuable throughout their operational lifetime.
If you’re developing connected devices without robust OTA infrastructure, you’re building in technical debt that will come due the moment you need to update deployed systems. Better to get it right from the start.
Want to discuss how production-grade OTA updates could work for your product? We’re happy to share our experience and explore what proper update infrastructure means for your specific needs.