
Firmware updates and software maintenance
Background and effects of EU directives/regulations on firmware
Regulations, decisions and ordinances related to HW/SW updates
DIRECTIVE 2009/125/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of October 21, 2009 – The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC is a directive under European law with the aim of improving the energy efficiency and general environmental compatibility of electrical appliances and energy-related products.
The latest regulation based on Directive 2009/125/EC – amending Regulations (EU) 2019/424, (EU) 2019/1781, (EU) 2019/2019, (EU) 2019/2020, (EU) 2019/2021, (EU) 2019/2022, (EU) 2019/2023 AND (EU) 2019/2024 with regard to ecodesign requirements for servers and data storage products, electric motors and variable speed drives, refrigerating appliances, light sources and separate control gears, electronic displays, household dishwashers, household washing machines and refrigerating appliances with a direct sales function: COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2021/341 of 23. February 2021 COMMISSION DECISION of December 13, 2011 – Case COMP/C-3/39692-IBM Maintenance Services
What changes does the 2021 Ecodesign Directive bring to the handling of firmware?
“…From March 1, 2021, the latest available version of the firmware shall be made available free of charge or at a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory cost two years after the first product of a given product model is placed on the market for a period of at least eight years after the last product of a given product model is placed on the market. The latest available firmware security update shall be made available free of charge from the date of placing on the market of a particular product model until at least eight years after the date of placing on the market of the last product of a particular product model.”
What impact does this have on me as a customer?
The new EU regulation gives you as an IT manager one thing above all: more security in terms of long-term availability and therefore more freedom in the sustainable design of your IT landscape.
No more worrying about firmware updates that may no longer be available and the associated security gaps within a few years of purchase.
The regulation also puts a stop to utopian price demands, contractual conditions linked to the purchase of firmware and recommendations for the premature replacement of fully functional hardware.
Sources
AS OF 03/2021 // K&P COMPUTER ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR THE TOPICALITY, CORRECTNESS AND COMPLETENESS.
Sources: Publications Office of the European Union; https://commission.europa.eu/ official website of the European Union

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