diff --git a/api_app/core/update_checker.py b/api_app/core/update_checker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec3163c058
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api_app/core/update_checker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import logging
+
+import requests
+from django.conf import settings
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def normalize_version(v):
+    """
+    Convert '1.2.3' → (1, 2, 3) so versions can be compared.
+    Stops at the first non-numeric part.
+    """
+    parts = []
+    for x in v.split("."):
+        if x.isdigit():
+            parts.append(int(x))
+        else:
+            break
+    return tuple(parts)
+
+
+def fetch_latest_version():
+    """
+    Fetch the latest IntelOwl version string from the update URL.
+    Returns a version string without any leading 'v', or None on error.
+    """
+    update_url = getattr(settings, "UPDATE_CHECK_URL", None)
+
+    if not update_url:
+        return None, "UPDATE_CHECK_URL not configured"
+
+    try:
+        resp = requests.get(
+            update_url,
+            headers={"User-Agent": "IntelOwl-Update-Checker"},
+            timeout=5,
+        )
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+    except requests.RequestException as exc:
+        logger.error(f"update check failed: {exc}")
+        return None, "Failed to fetch release information"
+
+    try:
+        data = resp.json()
+    except ValueError:
+        logger.error("invalid JSON in update response")
+        return None, "Invalid response from update server"
+
+    tag = data.get("tag_name")
+    if not tag:
+        return None, "Release response missing tag_name"
+
+    return tag.lstrip("v"), None
+
+
+def check_for_update():
+    """
+    Compare the running IntelOwl version with the latest available one.
+
+    Returns:
+        (success: bool, message: str)
+    """
+    current_version_str = getattr(settings, "INTEL_OWL_VERSION", None)
+    if not current_version_str:
+        return False, "INTEL_OWL_VERSION setting missing"
+
+    latest_str, error = fetch_latest_version()
+    if error:
+        return False, error
+
+    current_version_str = str(current_version_str).lstrip("v")
+
+    current = normalize_version(current_version_str)
+    latest = normalize_version(latest_str)
+
+    if not current or not latest:
+        if latest_str != current_version_str:
+            return (
+                True,
+                f"Update available: {latest_str} (current: {current_version_str})",
+            )
+        return True, f"IntelOwl version up to date ({current_version_str})"
+
+    if latest > current:
+        return (
+            True,
+            f"New IntelOwl version available: {latest_str} "
+            f"(current: {current_version_str})",
+        )
+
+    if latest < current:
+        return (
+            True,
+            f"Local version ahead of release: " f"{current_version_str} > {latest_str}",
+        )
+
+    return True, f"IntelOwl version up to date ({current_version_str})"
diff --git a/api_app/management/commands/check_updates.py b/api_app/management/commands/check_updates.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0cf89af184
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api_app/management/commands/check_updates.py
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+from django.core.management.base import BaseCommand
+
+from api_app.core.update_checker import check_for_update
+
+
+class Command(BaseCommand):
+    help = "Check for newer IntelOwl releases"
+
+    def handle(self, *args, **options):
+        success, message = check_for_update()
+
+        if success:
+            self.stdout.write(self.style.SUCCESS(message))
+        else:
+            self.stdout.write(self.style.ERROR(message))
diff --git a/intel_owl/settings/commons.py b/intel_owl/settings/commons.py
index 881e7ec68a..599fde1046 100644
--- a/intel_owl/settings/commons.py
+++ b/intel_owl/settings/commons.py
@@ -54,3 +54,10 @@
 GIT_SSH_SCRIPT_PATH = (
     PROJECT_LOCATION / "api_app" / "analyzers_manager" / "ssh_gitpython.sh"
 )
+
+# Update checker settings
+UPDATE_CHECK_URL = get_secret(
+    "UPDATE_CHECK_URL",
+    "https://api.github.com/repos/intelowlproject/IntelOwl/releases/latest",
+)
+INTEL_OWL_VERSION = VERSION