diff --git a/core/Errors.py b/core/Errors.py
index 2d46fab..d9ea9e7 100644
--- a/core/Errors.py
+++ b/core/Errors.py
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+class UnknownClientVersionError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
 class UnknownConnectionTypeError(Exception):
     pass
 
diff --git a/core/controllers/ClientController.py b/core/controllers/ClientController.py
index 91d2b9c..917e499 100644
--- a/core/controllers/ClientController.py
+++ b/core/controllers/ClientController.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from core.Constants import Constants
+from core.Errors import UnknownClientVersionError
 from core.controllers.ApplicationController import ApplicationController
 from core.controllers.ApplicationVersionController import ApplicationVersionController
 from core.controllers.ClientVersionController import ClientVersionController
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ from core.controllers.SubscriptionPlanController import SubscriptionPlanControll
 from core.observers import ClientObserver
 from core.observers.ConnectionObserver import ConnectionObserver
 from typing import Optional
+import os
 import pathlib
 
 
@@ -17,6 +18,26 @@ class ClientController:
     def get_working_directory():
         return str(pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent.parent)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_version():
+
+        version_number = os.environ.get('HV_CLIENT_VERSION')
+
+        if version_number is None:
+            raise UnknownClientVersionError('The client version could not be determined.')
+
+        return ClientVersionController.get_or_new(version_number)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def can_be_updated():
+
+        try:
+            version = ClientController.get_version()
+        except UnknownClientVersionError:
+            return False
+
+        return not ClientVersionController.is_latest(version)
+
     @staticmethod
     def sync(client_observer: ClientObserver = None, connection_observer: ConnectionObserver = None):
 
diff --git a/core/controllers/ClientVersionController.py b/core/controllers/ClientVersionController.py
index 2b84cb4..12dc266 100644
--- a/core/controllers/ClientVersionController.py
+++ b/core/controllers/ClientVersionController.py
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ class ClientVersionController:
     def get(version_number: str):
         return ClientVersion.find(version_number)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_or_new(version_number: str):
+
+        client_version = ClientVersionController.get(version_number)
+
+        if client_version is None:
+            return ClientVersion(version_number)
+
+        return client_version
+
     @staticmethod
     def get_all():
         return ClientVersion.all()
diff --git a/core/models/ClientVersion.py b/core/models/ClientVersion.py
index 652a11b..45a206a 100644
--- a/core/models/ClientVersion.py
+++ b/core/models/ClientVersion.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ _table_definition: str = """
 @dataclass
 class ClientVersion(Model):
     version_number: str
-    released_at: datetime = field(
+    released_at: Optional[datetime] = field(
+        default=None,
         metadata=config(
             encoder=datetime.isoformat,
             decoder=datetime.fromisoformat,