Join the Level Discord — connect with IT professionals, share ideas, and get real-time updates
Check it out.svg)
General
Firmware management is the process of tracking, updating, securing, and maintaining the low-level software that controls hardware devices. For IT teams, it supports endpoint security, device reliability, patch planning, and long-term asset management.
Level
Monday, April 20, 2026
Firmware management is the process of tracking, configuring, updating, securing, and maintaining the low-level software that controls hardware devices. Firmware runs below the operating system and is found in systems such as laptops, desktops, servers, routers, storage devices, printers, and embedded hardware. For IT teams, firmware management matters because outdated or misconfigured firmware can affect device security, startup reliability, hardware performance, endpoint compliance, and recovery after a failure. NIST describes platform firmware as part of the fundamental hardware and firmware components needed to boot and operate a system, and its platform firmware resiliency guidance focuses on protecting, detecting, and recovering from firmware attacks or corruption.
Firmware is software built into hardware.
It gives devices the instructions they need to start, operate, communicate, and perform hardware-level functions. Unlike regular applications, firmware usually sits closer to the hardware and may run before the operating system starts.
Common examples of firmware include:
BIOS and UEFI are two of the most familiar types of firmware for IT teams. BIOS is the older PC firmware standard, while UEFI is the modern firmware interface used by most current systems. Microsoft describes Secure Boot as a security standard used by PC firmware to help ensure that a device boots using only trusted software.
Firmware is important because it often controls core device behavior before normal management tools are available.
If firmware fails, the operating system may never load.
Firmware management is the structured process of maintaining firmware across devices.
It includes identifying firmware versions, applying updates, standardizing settings, monitoring security risks, documenting changes, and planning recovery steps when something goes wrong.
In practical IT operations, firmware management answers questions such as:
Firmware management is closely related to endpoint management, IT asset management, patch management, and hardware lifecycle planning.
It helps IT teams maintain control over the hardware layer of the environment.
Firmware is easy to overlook because it usually operates in the background.
However, it can affect some of the most important parts of IT operations.
Firmware management matters because it supports:
Firmware sits below the operating system. That means a firmware problem can break systems before endpoint agents, remote support tools, or monitoring platforms can help.
For example, a failed BIOS update may prevent a laptop from booting. A router with outdated firmware may expose a known vulnerability. A server with outdated firmware may experience stability issues or hardware compatibility problems. A system with Secure Boot misconfigured may fail modern security requirements.
NIST SP 800-193 emphasizes firmware resiliency because firmware attacks can be destructive and may target the platform components needed to boot and operate a system.
For IT teams, firmware management is not just maintenance. It is part of operational resilience.
Firmware management and software patch management are related, but they are not the same.
Software patch management focuses on applications, operating systems, and software components.
Firmware management focuses on embedded software that controls hardware.
Software patches usually update:
Firmware updates usually affect:
Firmware updates can carry higher operational risk because they may affect whether a device starts, boots, or communicates correctly.
This is why firmware updates usually require more careful testing, staged deployment, vendor release note review, and rollback planning.
Firmware exists across many device categories.
Understanding where firmware appears helps IT teams avoid blind spots.
BIOS and UEFI firmware control how computers start and initialize hardware.
UEFI is now the modern standard for most PCs and servers. It supports features such as Secure Boot, larger storage devices, and more advanced startup controls.
Microsoft notes that Secure Boot certificates originally issued in 2011 are being updated because older certificates begin expiring in June 2026. This is a strong example of why firmware-related trust chains and certificate management remain active operational concerns.
Network devices rely heavily on firmware.
Outdated firmware on routers, firewalls, access points, or switches can create security and availability risks.
These devices often sit at important points in the network, which makes firmware maintenance especially important.
Printers, scanners, docking stations, and other peripherals may also require firmware updates.
These updates may fix bugs, security issues, or compatibility problems.
Servers and storage systems may include firmware across multiple components.
This may include:
Firmware management is especially important in server environments because updates can affect uptime, redundancy, and recovery.
Embedded devices and IoT systems often rely on firmware for core functionality.
These systems may be harder to monitor and patch, which increases the risk of unmanaged firmware exposure.
Firmware security matters because firmware runs at a privileged layer.
If attackers compromise firmware, they may be able to persist below the operating system, evade some security tools, or interfere with startup integrity.
Common firmware security risks include:
NIST SP 800-193 describes firmware resiliency in terms of three major goals: protection, detection, and recovery. These goals help organizations protect firmware and critical data, detect corruption, and recover when firmware corruption occurs.
Microsoft’s Secure Boot documentation also highlights the importance of trusted boot software and the need to maintain Secure Boot trust as certificates age or expire.
For IT teams, this means firmware security should not be treated as a one-time setup task.
It needs to be monitored and maintained.
A practical firmware management process does not need to be overly complex.
It needs to be consistent, documented, and risk-aware.
The first step is visibility.
IT teams need to know which devices exist and what firmware versions they are running.
This includes:
This step connects directly to IT asset management because teams cannot update or secure firmware they do not know exists.
Not every firmware update has the same urgency.
IT teams should classify devices by business importance, exposure, and security risk.
Higher-priority devices may include:
CISA maintains the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog as a resource for identifying vulnerabilities that have been actively exploited.
Firmware-related vulnerabilities should be prioritized when they affect exposed or critical systems.
Firmware updates usually come from device manufacturers.
Before deploying an update, IT teams should review:
This reduces the chance of applying the wrong firmware or triggering avoidable device failures.
Firmware updates should be tested before wide deployment.
A small pilot group helps identify issues before a larger rollout.
Testing is especially important for:
Microsoft’s Secure Boot certificate transition guidance shows why testing matters. Older Secure Boot certificates begin expiring in 2026, and affected systems may need updates to maintain trusted boot behavior. (Microsoft Learn)
Firmware updates should be deployed gradually.
A staged rollout may include:
This helps IT teams identify failures before they affect the entire environment.
Every firmware update should be documented.
Documentation should include:
Good documentation improves troubleshooting and helps teams maintain consistency.
Firmware management is ongoing.
IT teams should regularly review:
Firmware should be reviewed as part of the broader endpoint and hardware lifecycle.
Good firmware management balances security, reliability, and operational risk.
A firmware inventory helps IT teams track which devices need updates.
This should include device type, model, manufacturer, firmware version, and business owner.
Not every firmware update needs immediate deployment.
Security updates and updates addressing known exploited vulnerabilities should receive higher priority.
Firmware updates should not be pushed blindly across all devices without testing.
A failed firmware update can cause major downtime.
Secure Boot helps protect startup integrity.
Microsoft describes Secure Boot as a way to help ensure that a device boots using only trusted software.
IT teams should keep Secure Boot enabled unless a specific support or compatibility case requires a different configuration.
Unsupported devices may stop receiving firmware updates.
This creates security and operational risk.
CISA guidance on reducing attack surface for end-of-support devices highlights the importance of understanding when devices are no longer supported and reducing exposure where risks cannot be remediated. (CISA)
Many manufacturers provide firmware update tools.
These tools can simplify deployment, but IT teams should still validate compatibility, test updates, and monitor results.
Firmware failures can be disruptive.
Recovery planning should include:
Firmware management can be difficult because firmware is distributed across many device types and vendors.
Common challenges include:
Many organizations do not have a complete firmware inventory.
This makes it hard to identify outdated or vulnerable devices.
Different vendors use different firmware tools, update methods, and release schedules.
This creates operational complexity.
Firmware updates can create more risk than normal software patches because failed updates may affect bootability or hardware function.
Remote teams may struggle to fix firmware failures if a device cannot boot or connect to the network.
Older devices may no longer receive firmware updates.
This creates long-term security and compliance issues.
Firmware updates often require restarts and may take longer than normal patches.
IT teams need to schedule updates carefully to avoid productivity issues.
Firmware management strengthens endpoint security by reducing exposure at the hardware layer.
It helps IT teams:
Firmware also supports broader cybersecurity practices.
For example, Secure Boot helps validate trusted startup components, while TPM supports hardware-backed security functions.
Together, these features help improve endpoint integrity.
NIST’s platform firmware resiliency guidance reinforces the need to protect firmware, detect corruption, and recover from firmware compromise.
Firmware management affects daily IT operations more than many teams realize.
It can influence:
A device with outdated firmware may fail an operating system upgrade.
A firewall with old firmware may expose the network.
A laptop with disabled Secure Boot may fail security checks.
A server with outdated controller firmware may become unstable.
Firmware management helps reduce these operational surprises.
Firmware management works best when IT teams have clear visibility into their endpoints and repeatable processes for maintaining them.
Level helps IT teams manage endpoints through centralized visibility, automation, and remote management. While firmware itself operates below the operating system, firmware-related work often connects to broader workflows such as endpoint management, patch management, IT asset management, remote monitoring and management, and IT automation.
For example, IT teams may use endpoint visibility to identify devices that need attention, coordinate maintenance windows, document hardware details, or automate related operational tasks around device health and compliance.
When firmware management is connected to broader endpoint operations, IT teams can reduce manual work, improve consistency, and respond faster when device issues appear.
A simple firmware management checklist can help teams build consistency.
Key actions include:
This checklist helps firmware management become a repeatable process instead of a reactive task.
Firmware management is the process of tracking, updating, securing, configuring, and maintaining firmware across hardware devices.
Firmware management is important because firmware affects device startup, security, hardware behavior, operating system compatibility, and endpoint reliability.
Firmware is a type of software, but it is embedded into hardware and usually operates at a lower level than applications or operating systems.
Common devices include laptops, desktops, servers, routers, firewalls, printers, storage systems, security appliances, and embedded devices.
Firmware updates can be risky if not tested or applied correctly. A failed firmware update may prevent a device from booting or operating properly.
Firmware should be reviewed regularly and updated when there is a security fix, stability improvement, hardware compatibility need, or vendor recommendation.
Firmware management is the process of maintaining the low-level software that controls hardware devices. It includes firmware inventory, update planning, security review, configuration management, documentation, and recovery preparation.
For IT teams, firmware management matters because firmware affects endpoint security, device reliability, operating system deployment, hardware compatibility, and long-term asset management. Treating firmware as part of endpoint management helps organizations improve visibility, reduce risk, and keep devices operating securely.
At Level, we understand the modern challenges faced by IT professionals. That's why we've crafted a robust, browser-based Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) platform that's as flexible as it is secure. Whether your team operates on Windows, Mac, or Linux, Level equips you with the tools to manage, monitor, and control your company's devices seamlessly from anywhere.
Ready to revolutionize how your IT team works? Experience the power of managing a thousand devices as effortlessly as one. Start with Level today—sign up for a free trial or book a demo to see Level in action.
General
Start your 14-day free trial today.
