Home is where the network is. Nowadays, modernizing a house means plugging in sensors, cameras, voice-activated hubs, smart lights and connected power sockets, and if your local network isn't secure, each new gadget represents a potential access point for hackers. With the incorrect implementation, those shiny new tools you bought to protect your home can actually make it more vulnerable.
"Your network -- your home network and your local network -- is kind of like your nervous system in your body; it's what connects everything together," said Nicholas White, founder of UnityTech Technology Integrators. "Obviously your protection needs to be on that."
White specializes in automating and securing high-net-worth homes, protecting the families of celebrities and professional athletes, and he charges anywhere between $20,000 and $300,000 per job. However, these are typically special gigs on giant properties, requiring a lot of equipment and creative installation solutions. For most folks, securing your smart home doesn't have to cost as much as (or more than) your actual house.
"A lot of the basic practices are pretty universal," White said. "When I say high-end, most folks start to think, 'Oh, this one particular product must cost a ton of money.' That's not necessarily the case."
There's no better practice than establishing a solid, secure network for your IoT and security devices to communicate over. If you want ultimate security, that means setting up a firewall.
