diff --git a/docs/Contributing/architecture/high-level-architecture.md b/docs/Contributing/architecture/high-level-architecture.md
index a917d94e34..2b56abbf5f 100644
--- a/docs/Contributing/architecture/high-level-architecture.md
+++ b/docs/Contributing/architecture/high-level-architecture.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ At a high level, Fleet consists of:
 4. **Storage**:
    - **MySQL**: Primary database for storing configuration, device information, and query results
    - **Redis**: Used for caching and managing live query results
+   - **S3/object storage**: Used for storing software installers and file carve results
 
 5. **External Services**:
    - **TUF Server**: Provides secure updates for the agent components
diff --git a/docs/Contributing/architecture/software/software-installation.md b/docs/Contributing/architecture/software/software-installation.md
index e47ada32ca..00414e569e 100644
--- a/docs/Contributing/architecture/software/software-installation.md
+++ b/docs/Contributing/architecture/software/software-installation.md
@@ -4,7 +4,33 @@ This document provides an overview of Fleet's software installation architecture
 
 ## Introduction
 
-Software installation in Fleet enables the deployment and installation of software packages across the device fleet. This document provides insights into the design decisions, system components, and interactions specific to the Software Installation functionality.
+Software installation in Fleet enables the deployment and installation of software packages across
+the device fleet. This document provides insights into the design decisions, system components, and
+interactions specific to the Software Installation functionality.
+
+## Important concepts
+
+### Software types
+
+Fleet supports 3 different types of installable software: custom packages, Fleet-maintained apps,
+and VPP apps.
+
+#### Custom packages
+
+Custom packages are software packages whose installer is uploaded directly to Fleet by an admin.
+
+Fleet supports `.pkg`, `.msi`, `.exe`, `.deb.`, and `.rpm` installers for custom packages.
+
+#### Fleet-maintained apps
+
+Fleet-maintained apps are software that Fleet curates. Fleet sources installers and generates
+install and uninstall scripts for Fleet-maintained apps, so that admins can add them to their
+software library with just a few clicks.
+
+#### VPP apps
+
+VPP apps are apps that can be added using Apple's Volume Purchasing Program functionality. These
+apps are only for Apple devices (macOS, iOS, and iPadOS) and are managed using the Apple MDM protocol.
 
 ## Architecture overview
 
@@ -12,13 +38,75 @@ Software installation in Fleet enables the deployment and installation of softwa
 
 ## Architecture diagram
 
-```
-[Placeholder for software installation architecture diagram]
+### VPP app install verification
+
+Fleet verifies VPP app installs by sending a series of `InstalledApplicationList` MDM commands after
+the acknowledgment of the `InstallApplication` command. It attempts to verify until either
+- the app shows up in the `InstalledApplicationList` response as installed, or
+- the verification timeout (defaults to 10m, configurable via the `FLEET_SERVER_VPP_VERIFY_TIMEOUT`
+  env var).
+
+
+```mermaid
+sequenceDiagram
+    autonumber
+    Fleet->>+Host: InstallApplicationCommand
+    Host-->>-Fleet: Acknowledged
+
+    Fleet->>+Fleet: Start timeout
+
+    loop Verification loop
+        Fleet->>+Host: InstalledApplicationListCommand
+        Host-->>-Fleet: Acknowledged<br/>[list of apps]
+        critical Check app status
+        option app in list, installed, exit:
+            Fleet->>+Fleet: Move status to "Installed"
+        option app not in list, timeout:
+            Fleet->>+Fleet: Move status to "Failed"
+        end
+    end
 ```
 
 ## Installation flow
 
-## Platform-specific implementation
+### Orbit implementation of installer-based (custom packages, FMA) software install
+
+```mermaid
+graph TD
+    subgraph "Orbit software installation flow"
+        direction TB
+        A_Start((Start)) -->  B{"Check if install requested<br/>(Orbit config receiver)"};
+        B -- 30s --> B
+        B -- Yes --> C[GET installer details];
+        C --> Err1[error/timeout: retry];
+        Err1 --> A_Start;
+        C --> D["Create temp dir (os.MkdirTemp)"];
+        D --> E{CDN configured?}
+        E -- Yes --> F[Download installer<br/>from CDN to temp dir]
+        E -- No --> G[Download from Fleet]
+        G --> Err3{Err?}
+        Err3 -- Yes --> K
+        Err3 -- No --> H
+        F --> Err2{Err?}
+        Err2 -- Yes --> G
+        Err2 -- No --> H[Write install script to temp dir]
+        H --> I["Run install script <br/> (timeout 1h)"]
+        I --> J{Failure?}
+        J -- Yes --> K[Delete temp dir]
+        K --> L["POST script result <br/> (5 retries w/ backoff)"]
+        J -- No --> M{Post-install<br/>script exists?}
+        M -- Yes --> N[Write post-install<br/>script to temp dir]
+        N --> O["Run post-install<br/>script (timeout 1hr)"]
+        O --> P{Failure?}
+        P -- Yes --> Q[Write uninstall script to temp dir]
+        Q --> R["Run uninstall script<br/>(timeout 1hr)"]
+        R --> K
+        P -- No --> K
+        M -- No --> K
+    end
+```
+
+## Platform-specific implementations
 
 ### macOS