Axis Commits To Long-Term Firmware Support

By Brian Karas, Published Nov 15, 2017, 09:56am EST

With the rise of cyber security awareness, and a general increase in hardware reliability, "software warranties" may prove more valuable than hardware warranties. Axis is rolling out a long term support plan for device firmware, with plans to support devices for up to 10 years with patches related to device security and stability.

We spoke with Axis on the details of their LTS (long term support) firmware strategy and provide our analysis in this note.

********** ******

****' ********** ************* ****** *** **** *********, ******* that ******* ***** ** ******** "as **** ** *** product ** ***** ********* by ****".

***** **** ********* ********* products *** ******* ***** after ******* *******, ********* could *** ****** ********** specific ******* *********. *** new ****** ***** ********* better ********* ** ***** able ** *** ******** updates *** * ********* period ** ****.

LTS ********

********* ** ****, *** firmware **** **** * states, ******* ** *** age ** *** *******:

***** ***** - ****** for * ***** ***** initial ******* ******* ** software ***** **** (*** currently ******** ********): ********* improvements ** ******** *** security, *********, *** **********. During **** ***** ******** may ******* ****** **** are *** ***** *******, but ***** ************* ** address ********* ********** ****** they *** *********.
****** ***** - **** years *-* ***** *******: reactive ************ (*.*., ** response ** *** ****** reported ** ********** ** Axis ** ******) ** security, *********, *** **********. During **** ***** ******** would ********* ******* ****** that *** ***** ********, or ***** ** ****** potential ********.
***** ***** - **** years *-** ***** *******: sustaining *******. ****** **** phase ******* ***** ********* only ******* ***** ******** that ******* ******** ***** to *******.

** *****, ********* *** expect **** ** ******** improve ********/********* ******* ************* for *** ***** *** years ***** ******* ******* release, *** **** ****** to ******** ***********, ***** software ************ ***** ** done **** ** ******** to ****** **********.

**** ****** "*** ******** is ** ******** * LTS ******* *** ** years."

6.50 ***** *** *****

*** ******* ******* **** firmware ******* *.**. *** current ******** **** *** on *.** (** *****), customers *** ****** *** 10 **** *********** **** outlined ***** *** ***** devices. ** ******** *** not ********/********** **** ******* 6.50 (** *****), ** official *** ******* ** planned, ****** **** *** still **** ********/********* ******* ** the ***** ******** ** they **** ** *********.

No ****** *** ***

***** **** *** ** a ****** *** *** firmware, ** **** ** part ** *** ******** purchase *****.

LTS ******* ****

***** *********** *** **** term ******** ******* **** been ****** ** *** IT ******** *** ************** devices **** ******* *** switches, **** *** **** common ** *** ************ industry. ****' ******* ** specific *** *********** ** the ***** *** ** are ***** ** ***** camera *************.

Models ********

******* ****** ***** *** still ********* ****** ************ and ***** **** ****** part ** *** *** firmware *******. ***** ****** that *** ** ****** ********* active ******** *********** *** still ******* ******** ******* for ********/*********, ******* **** has **** ** ******** commitments.

Helps ********** *****

****** ********* ***** **** assurance **** ******** **** purchase ***** **** ***** be ******** ********* ******* years ** *** ******. Hardware ********** ***** ********** failures, *** ** *** address ******** ******* ******, such ** ***** ******** vulnerabilities, **** *** ** discovered **** ****. ******* that **** *** **** likely ** *** ** with * ***** ********* base ** ******** ** insecure ******** ****** ****** to ** *********** ** enterprises.

Justifies *******

**** ******** *** *** this *** ******** ********** as * *** ** help ******* *** **** differences ******* **** ******* and *****-****** ******. **** program ** **** ***** the ******* *********** ********** efforts **** ** **** its ********, *** *** those ******** *** **** more **** ******* ***** without ******* ***********.

Benefits ** ***********

*** *** ******* ***** assure *********** **** **** will *** **** ** in * ******** ***** they **** **** ********* product **** ** ***** revealed ** **** * security *************, *** **** their ************ **** *** support ****/*** *******. ** an *******, **** ******** during *** ***** ******** *****, **** *********** ********* difficulties ** ******* ******** for **** ***** *****.

*********** *** **** *** this ******* ** * spec-item, ******* ** ****** competitive ****** ** ****** designs **** **** ** out *** ****.

Software ** *** *** ********

********-***** ************* *** ******* stands ** ***** ******** enhancements ** * ************** among *************. *** ************ industry *** ******* ***** it *** ******* ******** designs **** **** ** exceed **** ******** ***** (e.g., **** *******, ***** cameras, ***-***** ***********, **-***** analytics, ****-*******, ***.), *** the ***** ****** **** continued ** ****, ****** to ****-**-***-****** ******. ***** these ******** ******* *** have * ******** *********, manufacturers **** ********* *** led **** ********-******** ********* as ******** ******** (******* outside ** **** *********, which ** ***** **** niche). ****' ***** ** device ******** **** ***** LTS ******* *** ***** perceptions ** **** ************** various ********, ******* ** price *****.

Comments (6)

Undisclosed #1

11/15/17 04:29pm

Good article... thanks!

And good news!

Totally agree. A lot a of value in this approach.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

11/15/17 06:13pm

Software Is The New Hardware

Exceptionally true.

bashis mcw

11/15/17 07:55pm

Impressive move.

Brian Karas

IPVM | 11/15/17 10:36pm

UPDATE

Added a short section based on some additional feedback from Axis:

6.50 First LTS Build

LTS support started with firmware version 6.50. For current products that are on 6.50 (or later), customers can expect the 10 year maintenance plan outlined above for these devices. If products are not eligible/compatible with version 6.50 (or later), no official LTS support is planned, though Axis may still make security/stability updates to the older firmware if they deem it practical.

Undisclosed #3

IPVMU Certified | 11/16/17 05:49am

From the manufacturers perspective, software warranties differ in one major respect to hardware warranties: Hardware warranties have a per unit exposure but software warranties have only a per model (or even model group) exposure.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

11/16/17 07:35pm

This should be expected when buying a $500 or $2k camera, for them to continue fixing bugs and security holes. If you look at the firmware releases they are fixing problems with the cameras and often have updates.

We have discovered a memory leak in P3364-LVE models where the camera goes gray/purple and then eventually will run out and just be inaccessible (they know about it). We expect them to continue and fix these.

It's a great marketing/sales release and point for them no doubt.

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