Smith, Andrew CLedwaba, Lehlogonolo P2025-09-052025-09-052025-07http://hdl.handle.net/10204/14389Renewable energy-based microgrid deployments are being identified as potential solutions for faster electrification in developing countries. IoT-enabled microgrids solve the physical infrastructure limitations of connecting communities that are geographically distant from main grid energy supply networks and reduce the added demand placed on the already grid. However, with the deployment of long-term, long-lived IoT technologies, a need for appropriate maintenance and updating strategies is introduced to ensure that the network’s security, integrity, and availability is maintained. Hardware would need to access up-to-date features and patches deployed within newer f irmware iterations without significant interaction and effort from the end user. This work aims to identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate strategies and solutions for remote IoT firmware updating to be used within transactive microgrid deployments. The solutions considered should be able to maintain the security and integrity of the firmware file during distribution and be able to tolerate the unpredictability of transmission utilizing various communications networks and differing levels of network coverage. The investigation compares and analyses various firmware updating methodologies for lightweight operation, capability of minimising the monetary cost of firmware updating to the end user, and coverage of firmware updating attack vectors As part of future work, the identified firmware mechanisms shall be implemented within a demonstrable microgrid network simulation to assess the performance and latency impacts introduced on microgrid transactions and IoT network processes.FulltextenFirmware updatesTransactive MicrogridsSecurityConference Presentationn/a