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It is now easier than ever to keep an eye on what’s going on at home, but how can home security tech improve? Jonathan Easton speaks to the channel and examines the ways people can make their work or home space more secure.
A man’s home is his castle according to the old adage.
In the modern age of connected devices, the castle in question relies more on smart technology for protection than it does on stones and moats.
So what is it that has driven people towards technology over physical locks and keys in 2016?
“It’s only natural to want to protect our property and our loved ones,” says Gekko marketing executive Kristan Barlow. “The smart technology now available in the marketplace has opened new possibilities for shoppers looking to improve their home security, or even consider it for the first time”
Netbit UK’s Daniel Cohen echoes these sentiments: “It can be a simple, affordable solution to deter or prosecute criminals who intend to invade your most personal space: home.”
With an increased level of security consciousness from consumers, crime rates are actually reflecting the growth in home security tech.
Scott Frankling, marketing executive at Target Components, argues that – statistically speaking – security tech can make a drastic difference in keeping a home safe from intruders: “The British Crime Survey says a house with less than basic security has an average risk of 5.8 per cent of being burgled, whereas a house with basic security has an average chance of 0.9 per cent.”
It would appear that this trend might have something to do with consumer habits.
“Security devices are one of the top growing categories in the smart home,” says Context’s Adam Simon. “From a small starting base, revenues since 2014 have grown 970 per cent in the top five European economies.”
In spite of the increased tendencies of consumers to purchase home security technology, Simon warns that devices aren’t as secure as one might think.
“The recent IoT botnet attack showed that millions of devices are vulnerable to hackers. There is much more that suppliers can do to foster and build consumer trust in home security devices.”
“From a small starting base, revenues in home security tech have grown 970% since 2014.”
Adam Simon, Context
Likewise, Bullguard security expert Steve Bell talks about how home security devices are vulnerable: “Are home security devices secure enough from hackers? In short, no.
“Hackers can point tools at a username or password, program it to find this information and leave it to a computer processor to power the tool through millions of options until it finds the right one, in superfast time.”
Skepticism doesn’t just originate from the vulnerability of home security devices. According to Frankling, “many consumers are concerned about the complexity of technology and the difficulties of installation”.
But does security tech – with cameras and intelligent alarms – leave room for innovation where technology is already fairly established? “There is always room for innovation,” says Barlow. “Certainly cameras will get better and no doubt voice and face recognition technology will, in time, be incorporated into products.”
Frankling succinctly states that the development of home security tech isn’t so much to do with the fidelity of cameras and flashy features, but rather “integration, simplicity and effectiveness”.
It is now easier than ever for people to make sure things are okay at home or in their office. Whether it is being able to see your living room from across the planet, or turning on a light to deter a potential burglar from your smartphone, users have the ability to make their home into something of a fortress. What we mustn’t lose sight of is that these modern security solutions should work in tandem with – and not replace – the physical locks that have lasted for centuries.
