Security Patch vs Maintenance Release

Device firmware updates range from simple security updates to robust system operating system upgrades. Different types of updates can result in downtimes in productivity, application compatibility issues, and more.

For enterprise customers of Samsung, we provide clear visibility into the type of update a device is receiving. This allows IT admins to take relevant actions to ensure smooth firmware deployment. Device updates can come in three separate forms:

1. Security maintenance release (SMR)
2. Maintenance release (MR)
3. Operating System upgrade (OS upgrade)

With security maintenance releases, there is little risk in deploying the update as soon as it is available. SMRs only include security patches and don’t include additional bug fixes on the platform.

For maintenance releases, some functions may be adjusted to improve performance and fix bugs. These changes always have a small risk for additional bugs—we encourage admins to stagger their deployments in order to identify any issues that may arise prior to deploying to all assets.

Operating System upgrades always contain significant changes to the platform. The content of these updates can vary. It’s encouraged to identify a deployment strategy where admins can test OS upgrades to ensure stability of their environment prior to mass deployment.

Occasionally, to optimize on the number of times your device must upgrade its firmware, an SMR may be combined with a MR. With Android managed system updates, you’ll be unable to see this level of information. Users concerned should leverage Knox E-FOTA to gain insight into the types of updates available for a specific device model.