With the holidays come new devices and gadgets are going to be part of a growing number of automated homes. Many of the smart-gifts given this year will instantaneously connect homeowners’ data and personal information to their dwelling — and practically every appliance, computer, and device they own — though the Internet of Things (IoT). As soon as new devices make the IoT connection, a home’s virtual front door is open to the world for anyone to step inside.
Locking the Virtual Front Door
Keeping consumers safe in the coming year means ensuring their devices, homes, and personal security on the IoT. Rely on a trusted IoT security partner to find and close the gaps in your clients’ virtual homes. Too many security firms stop at basic one-size-fits-all services that may not always address an individual home’s local network of machines. It is important to discuss each home’s specific connectivity issues to determine gaps that, if overlooked, could expose a family’s most private and personal information.
Every device a consumer brings into the home has the potential to expose vital data through its connectivity properties. Whether it’s a refrigerator that shares a shopping list with an android device, or a new game console that connects worldwide players with the latest interactive adventures, new products join every home’s ever-expanding network simply by powering up.
Adopt an IoT Watchdog
State-of-the-art routers, consumer software firewalls, and passwords can provide basic protections against intrusion from prying eyes. However, not every consumer-based product that promises safety and security is up to the task of repelling the latest security threats.
Hackers, bots, and other cyber pests are waiting for any opportunity to breach your clients’ defenses. Very often, the bad guys’ technology may be as or more current than that big-box store device that was obsolete the day it went on sale.
Don’t let your clients’ homes be the first in the neighborhood to be exposed to a digital break-in. Trust an IoT security firm that takes the necessary steps to identify and seal the hidden gaps in every house’s cybersecurity plan and defenses. You wouldn’t expect a family to leave the doors to their home unlocked, so why take the risk with their personal gadgets that — if left unprotected — can be a greater risk than an open home. Make sure they understand how to treat every IoT device as a potential threat to their personal identity, data, and safety.
Add an Extra Pair of Eyes
One of the biggest myths of the modern smart-home is that people, even those who may work from home, are prepared to run them. Managing the network that connects all the devices in a home — from the security system to the entertainment console — can be time-consuming and require technical skills above those of most homeowners.
Unless your clients are prepared to design, program, monitor, and update a complex IoT security platform, finding a trusted security consultant is crucial to keeping their data and life safe.
Beyond the run-of-the-mill security software, it is crucial in today’s cybersecurity market to incorporate extra measures like a customized security information and event monitor (SIEM). A well-designed SIEM executes a functional AI-type algorithm that learns a home’s security profile. When a covert intrusion or unexpected event occurs, the SIEM can act where normal firewalls and virus monitors cannot.
High-value homeowners will appreciate the added level of comfort and trust that comes with an IoT security firm that has the experience and know-how to protect their most valuable assets…the lives inside.