diff --git a/actions/interface.go b/actions/interface.go
index c0ee5fb7..52d64749 100644
--- a/actions/interface.go
+++ b/actions/interface.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ type Getter interface {
 	// Retrieve BIOS configuration for device
 	GetBIOSConfiguration(ctx context.Context) (map[string]string, error)
 	// UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install
-	UpdateRequirements(ctx context.Context, componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error)
+	UpdateRequirements(ctx context.Context, componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error)
 }
 
 // Utility interface couples the configuration, collection and update interfaces
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ type UEFIVarsCollector interface {
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
 type UpdateRequirementsGetter interface {
-	UpdateRequirements(componentModel string) model.UpdateRequirements
+	UpdateRequirements(componentModel string) *model.UpdateRequirements
 }
 
 // DriveUpdater defines an interface to update drive firmware
diff --git a/actions/update.go b/actions/update.go
index ef866a20..204b1cf7 100644
--- a/actions/update.go
+++ b/actions/update.go
@@ -75,22 +75,21 @@ func UpdateAll(ctx context.Context, device *common.Device, options []*model.Upda
 
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
-func UpdateRequirements(componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
+func UpdateRequirements(componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
 	slug := strings.ToUpper(componentSlug)
 	vendor := common.FormatVendorName(componentVendor)
-	req := model.UpdateRequirements{}
 
 	switch componentSlug {
 	case common.SlugNIC:
 		updater, err := GetNICUpdater(vendor)
 		if err != nil {
-			return req, err
+			return nil, err
 		}
 
 		return updater.UpdateRequirements(componentModel), nil
 
 	default:
-		return req, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrNoUpdateHandlerForComponent, "component: "+slug)
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrNoUpdateHandlerForComponent, "component: "+slug)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/providers/asrockrack/asrockrack.go b/providers/asrockrack/asrockrack.go
index 15cd0937..1e97905d 100644
--- a/providers/asrockrack/asrockrack.go
+++ b/providers/asrockrack/asrockrack.go
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ func (a *asrockrack) InstallUpdates(context.Context, *model.UpdateOptions) error
 
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
-func (a *asrockrack) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
-	return model.UpdateRequirements{}, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: asrockrack")
+func (a *asrockrack) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
+	return nil, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: asrockrack")
 }
 
 // GetInventoryOEM collects device inventory using vendor specific tooling
diff --git a/providers/dell/dell.go b/providers/dell/dell.go
index 08b06107..73b8072a 100644
--- a/providers/dell/dell.go
+++ b/providers/dell/dell.go
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ func (d *dell) ListAvailableUpdates(ctx context.Context, options *model.UpdateOp
 
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
-func (d *dell) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
-	return model.UpdateRequirements{}, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: generic")
+func (d *dell) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
+	return nil, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: generic")
 }
 
 // InstallUpdates for Dells based on updateOptions
diff --git a/providers/generic/generic.go b/providers/generic/generic.go
index cddf23dc..9f3c1321 100644
--- a/providers/generic/generic.go
+++ b/providers/generic/generic.go
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ func (a *Generic) ListAvailableUpdates(_ context.Context, _ *model.UpdateOptions
 
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
-func (a *Generic) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
-	return model.UpdateRequirements{}, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: generic")
+func (a *Generic) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, _, _, _ string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
+	return nil, errors.Wrap(errs.ErrUpdateReqNotImplemented, "provider: generic")
 }
 
 // InstallUpdates installs updates based on updateOptions
diff --git a/providers/supermicro/supermicro.go b/providers/supermicro/supermicro.go
index bfdd75e0..30856649 100644
--- a/providers/supermicro/supermicro.go
+++ b/providers/supermicro/supermicro.go
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func (s *supermicro) ListAvailableUpdates(context.Context, *model.UpdateOptions)
 
 // UpdateRequirements returns requirements to be met before and after a firmware install,
 // the caller may use the information to determine if a powercycle, reconfiguration or other actions are required on the component.
-func (s *supermicro) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
+func (s *supermicro) UpdateRequirements(_ context.Context, componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel string) (*model.UpdateRequirements, error) {
 	return actions.UpdateRequirements(componentSlug, componentVendor, componentModel)
 }
 
diff --git a/utils/mlxup.go b/utils/mlxup.go
index aa1db768..d728d1c1 100644
--- a/utils/mlxup.go
+++ b/utils/mlxup.go
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ func setNICFirmware(d *MlxupDevice, firmware *common.Firmware) {
 }
 
 // UpdateRequirements implements the actions/NICUpdater interface to return any pre/post firmware install requirements.
-func (m *Mlxup) UpdateRequirements(_ string) model.UpdateRequirements {
-	return model.UpdateRequirements{PostInstallHostPowercycle: true}
+func (m *Mlxup) UpdateRequirements(_ string) *model.UpdateRequirements {
+	return &model.UpdateRequirements{PostInstallHostPowercycle: true}
 }
 
 // UpdateNIC updates mellanox NIC with the given update file