2022 will be the year that houses start to become intelligent. Due to the popularity of voice assistants and home automation systems in recent years, security professionals and consumers have begun to pay closer attention to the security of smart homes and gadgets.

According to sources, more over 12 million smart home devices were sold in Q4 2022, compared to only 4 million in Q4 2016. When more and more gadgets are developed and used by more homeowners, predictions state that growth will rise.

What is a smart home?

A connected home is one that can be monitored, managed, and accessed via the internet from outside the house or from virtually anywhere in the globe.

A companion software that connects to smart home devices over Wi-Fi enables users to change a variety of settings from their smartphone or tablet, including temperature, colour, brightness, and more.

The Flexibility of a Smart House

As an example, you might programme a smart house to open the curtains when it's time to get up or turn on/off a plug outlet. Smart homes can be programmed to perform as much or as little as you choose. Common household appliances and operations are becoming increasingly automated thanks to the development of new hardware and software.

The following is a list of the most common functions that a smart home can carry out:

Lights can be turned on and off, changed in colour, brightness, or according to a schedule.

Using simple techniques, whether with a device, your voice, or a timer, you may easily open and close your blinds and curtains.

Several smart thermostats can address the issue of heating. These let you to control the temperature accurately and even pre-warm an area before you enter it.

You can watch your home from a distance with internet-connected smart security cameras, track guests, and even alert neighbours to suspicious activity.

There may be many more household tasks that can be automated or regulated.

What Is Required for a Smart Home?

Starting a smart home project is easy. To get started, you'll need a smart control device and a Wi-Fi network with internet access. Voice assistants like Google Home and the Amazon Echo family are the most widely used smart gadgets.

Once you have a fundamental Wi-Fi configuration, you can then look into all the devices that can make your house smarter.

Are secure in smart homes?

The quick answer is no, but they might be. By being cautious when installing your smart home devices, you may dramatically improve your house's security. There are four crucial things to do in order to build fundamental security.

Choose a secure password because it will be required for both your Wi-Fi network and the cloud account on your device. Choose a strong password because a weak one could provide access to your devices. Making safe passwords and using a password manager like LastPass to manage them is encouraged.

Your devices' Wi-Fi network should be changed. You should strongly consider joining a separate Wi-Fi network with all of your common electronic devices.

Some homeowners may improve their smart homes to include the most controls possible. They include stuff like pet feeders, door locks, kitchenware, doors, and even lawnmowers.

More knowledgeable users may employ specialised technologies or strategies to boost the security of a smart home. There are several of these specialised techniques and systems that, when set up and maintained correctly, can greatly improve security.

Even if the majority of homes only have one or two gadgets, it is still crucial to make sure your home is secure. Most homeowners won't need specialised security systems or procedures to protect their smart homes, but simple precautions like passwords, permissions, and updates are essential to preserving security in your smart home.

Electrical distributor Unltd Device has relationships with numerous producers of smart home technology.