Smart Home - Buyers Guide | SCAN UK

Smart Home is an umbrella term used to cover an ever-growing array of connected devices that part of your home network and communicate via your router - whether connected physically by Ethernet cable or wirelessly. The concept of a smart home is to add convenience to life, either by providing automation for heating or lighting systems or to deliver additional functionality such as security when using cameras or alarms.

Although many smart devices are relatively simple to add to your home, there are many considerations to be made when choosing a system. This guide will take you through how a smart home works, the different groups of devices you can choose from and, most importantly, making sure your network is secure - meaning your data and privacy are protected as much as possible. You can learn more about the basic router and switch infrastructure required for a smart home by reading our HOME NETWORKING BUYERS GUIDE.

Illustration representing smart home devices and connectivity

How Does a Smart Home Work?

The essence of a smart home is control - the ability to operate devices remotely when you’re not at home or to set routines to automate functions for convenience for security. In order to enable this capability devices must be able to see the device that will control them - in most cases a smart phone or tablet connected to the same network. Therefore, all smart devices must be connected to the router within the home.

This can be achieved in one of two ways - either directly via wireless or via a hub that connects by Ethernet cable to the router, and then creates its own wireless communication system using any one of a range of smart home protocols that differ from the wireless (or WI-Fi) signal your router uses. There are a number of common smart home communication protocols as highlighted below.

Zigbee

Zigbee is a wireless protocol which creates a mesh network between compatible devices. It uses devices to relay signals to other devices, strengthening and expanding the network. Zigbee can be built in dimmers, door locks, thermostats, and more. It is used by WeMo and Philips Hue, for example.

Z-Wave

Similar to Zigbee, Z-Wave is an open source mesh network protocol. Technically speaking, the main difference between the two is the data throughput — Z-wave is roughly 6 times slower than Zigbee. It does, however, require less energy to cover the same range as Zigbee. SmartThings and Lowes Iris use Z-Wave.

Thread

Thread is a wireless protocol developed by a group of companies including Nest, Samsung, Qualcomm and Osram. It is designed to allow the devices in its protocol to communicate even when the WiFi network goes down.

BLUETOOTH LE

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a short-range (around 10m) wireless protocol. BLE is optimised for intermittent communication and devices spend most of their time in a low-power sleep mode, waking up only to send or receive small data packets.

Infrared

Infrared is one of the simplest and most reliable protocols, normally offering one-way communication. It’s the number one choice for remote control systems such as Harmony, using Infrared to communicate with TVs and amplifiers, but using Wi-Fi to allow smart phone control.

In general, these communication technologies are not directly compatible, but interoperability can be achieved using Matter - a new unifying application layer that enables devices from different ecosystems (Apple, Google, Amazon etc) to work together over Wi-Fi or Thread. Alternatively, a digital assistant such as Amazon Alexa, will allow voice control of multiple technologies by using naming systems to control lights such as ‘Alexa - lounge lights on’ or by commanding a function such as ‘Alexa - tell Harmony to turn on TV’. If this type of voice control appeals to you when creating smart home capabilities, then it is advisable to check what compatibility your chosen devices have with digital assistants from the likes of Amazon, Google and Apple.

It is also worth mentioning that the more functions you add to your home that require a hub to communicate with the router, the more Ethernet ports you will need. To ease simple future expansion it may be wise to consider an additional Ethernet switch to provide more ports - you can learn more about choosing the most appropriate switch to complement your router in our HOME NETWORKING BUYERS GUIDE.

Diagram showing how smart home devices communicate through a hub or Wi-Fi

What are my Smart Home options?

A smart home offers many benefits of convenience and functionality - smart bulbs can be used to create lighting effects or to set on/off schedules and smart blinds can add to the lighting effects for security. Cameras can monitor pets indoors or vehicles outdoors - both offering images sent to your smartphone should the cameras be triggered by movement. Furthermore, as devices are connected via your router, you can control devices while away - turning heating on before you get home, or advising a delivery person where to leave a parcel through a smart video door bell.

As there's a huge choice of smart devices on the market we've broken down this buyer’s guide into types of device - based on three distinctions - Security, Assistants & Appliances, and Lighting & Heating.

Smart Security Systems

These type of smart devices bring convenience and automation to securing your home. Options start with doorbells that can be used to communicate with people outside the door to locks and cameras, complete alarm systems and smoke alarms.

Smart home security system including cameras and sensors

Smart Cameras

Smart security cameras offer further functionality for monitoring what is happening both inside and outside your home. They are an evolution of traditional CCTV technology in that rather than being a separate closed system, smart cameras operate on the same wireless standards as other smart devices allowing much greater integration and cross-functionality within the smart home. They can be used for a number of purposes - increasing home security, keeping an eye on a sleeping baby, monitoring your pets and making sure your family is home safely while you’re at work. Along with recording the activities around your property, you can receive alerts to your smartphone if loud noises or excessive movement is registered so you can check and deal with any issues as soon as they happen.

There are numerous types of cameras available and all have specific designs and features that may make them more suited to a particular use. A fixed camera refers to a device where it is positioned and then gives a view of a constant image - it cannot be moved side-to-side or up and down. A fixed camera is suited to either indoor or outdoor installation (outdoor versions will be weatherproof), and can be used to view a single room, or aspect of outside your home. Several could be used in conjunction to cover each side of your home or within multiple rooms. Audio capability is also an option that may be useful - especially if the camera is being used as a baby or pet monitor, as hearing a familiar voice may be handy. Infrared (IR) capability will offer better visibility in darkened room for at night outside. Budget models may offer images in only monochrome, where mid-range models will provide colour. High-end models will offer FullHD and 4K resolutions too.

Outdoor smart security camera mounted on a home exterior wall

Alternatively a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera has all functions and options of a fixed camera - colour, audio, IR, weatherproof, HD and 4K - but with the added advantage of being able to control the view the camera provides. Movement can be controlled from the app including side-to-side, up and down and zooming in or out. It is also possible to create movement alerts and have the camera track that movement automatically. Outdoor versions of PTZ cameras will often be within a dome to allow 360O movement yet keep the camera protected.

Depending on where the camera is to be mounted then there are numerous options for connectivity back to the router. It could be connected directly to the router or via a switch using Ethernet cabling - using power-over-Ethernet (PoE) if no power supply is readily available, or it could be wirelessly connected. Additionally, different cameras use different methods of storing footage – some have memory card slots for downloading straight to your PC, while others use cloud storage, so even if your camera is damaged or stolen the footage is still safe.

Be Aware

There are several considerations to be made when looking to install smart cameras inside or outside your home. Power is the first - PoE cameras may be the best option if installing high up outside as only a single cable is needed. Similarly, as cameras are not easily accessed you don’t want to use built-in SD as a recording format. Secondly, if you are wanting a high-resolution image then wired cameras may be the better option. If you have several cameras, the image and video file sizes could cause issues over wireless, especially when trying to view remotely. Finally, as previously stated, it is likely cameras will be part of a wider smart home deployment so it is best to ensure compatibility with door or alarm systems prior to purchase.

Data Security and Privacy Considerations

Throughout this smart home guide we have mentioned things to consider when looking to purchase and integrate any of these smart technologies into your home, there are a couple of universal considerations you must be aware of when it comes to data security and privacy. As all these smart devices are network connected one way or another they have inbuilt vulnerability to being compromised by hackers. Firstly, you need to ensure individual devices are secure. Some smart home devices are rushed to market and their security may not have been adequately addressed. In some cases, user manuals don't address privacy concerns or give you enough information to be sure the device is secure. For instance, baby monitors and security cameras have been hacked, giving criminals the ability to see inside a house. Many cybersecurity experts believe that with smart devices, you shouldn't be thinking about what happens 'if' they're hacked, but 'when' because many are easy to hack and offer little protection.

Secondly, your home network may not be secure, and any data held in that network could be accessible to an intruder. A criminal could track your usage patterns for various devices to see when you're away from home for instance. If your home network is controlled from your broadband account, it's not just data from your smart devices that could be at risk. Any vulnerability could compromise your private information, including emails, your social media accounts and even your bank accounts. Many users control their connected home through a smartphone, which makes it a very valuable database for anyone wanting to hack into your life. This creates a high risk if your phone is hacked, stolen or if someone manages to eavesdrop on your connection. To ensure your home network security isn't compromised by a single vulnerable smart device, follow these tips to provide the maximum security for your smart home network.

Symbols representing data security, privacy, and network protection

Secure your access devices

This might include your computer(s), your tablet(s) and your smartphone(s) and your router. These can be secured by purchasing comprehensive Android or iOS software packages from the likes of Norton, Kaspersky and many more. Your smartphone, if hacked or stolen, could compromise your entire home network and security system, so make securing it your top priority.

Use the screen lock on your smartphone - ensure no one can access it in your absence.
Ensure all your computers and smartphones are password protected - don't use passwords that are easy to guess (like your birthday or name).
Change the default username and password on your router - changing the name will stop hackers being able to guess the device or network you're using. Use WPA authentication to create a secure network.
Use firewalls on any computers and on your router - most routers have a firewall built into their hardware, but it must first be enabled by the user.
Isolate your smart home network from your other networks. This is relatively easy to do by setting up guest networks for your smart home devices.

Secure each smart device

Once you've secured your networks to ensure that none of your smart devices can access your personal data or control the network, your next step is to secure the individual devices - change the default passwords - leaving a default password on a device enables anyone who owns the same device to gain access.

If you have voice activated devices such as smart speakers, change the alert word from ‘OK Google’ or ‘Alexa’ to something only you and your family know.
Before you buy a new device, make sure you have adequate information about its security protection - find out whether the manufacturer provides regular firmware updates
Examine the privacy policy on a device before you buy it - how is the manufacturer going to make use of your personal data? What data does the device have access to? If you don't intend to use voice activation on a device, you may want to turn the microphone off so that other conversations are not picked up and transmitted.
Remember to keep devices updated - either using automatic updates or doing so manually. Hackers are always coming up with new ways to compromise smart devices and security patches will protect you against those new threats.
Turn off Universal Plug & Play (UPnP) - most smart devices have this feature, which enables them to find other smart devices and connect to them automatically. However, UPnP protocols are vulnerable to outside attack and will allow access to multiple devices once a single device has been hacked.
Check the permissions for apps running on your devices - anything that asks for permission to edit your router's settings is a potential security threat.

Even if you have followed all these home security tips, you're still running a risk if you log on to public Wi-Fi with your laptop or phone. If you don't need authentication to get into a network, neither do hackers. If you regularly use public Wi-Fi, learn how to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect your privacy and your smart home.

Ready to Buy?

We hope you’ve found this buyers guide useful in understanding all that makes up a smart home and how to keep it as secure as possible. You can see our range of smart devices by clicking on the links below.

Smart Speakers Smart Accessories Smart Lighting Smart Heating Smart Doobells & Locks Smart Indoors Cameras Smart Outdoor Cameras Smart Alarm Systems

collection of images showing all the smart home products

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Here are some common questions and answers to help you find the information you need.

What is a smart home?

A smart home is a modern residential setting featuring interconnected devices—sometimes called the Internet of Things (IoT)—that enable you to remotely control, monitor, and automate systems such as security, heating and lighting with smartphones or voice commands via digital assistant devices such as Amazon Alexa.

Do I need a smart home?

A smart home is not a necessity, but it can offer significant benefits in energy efficiency, security, and convenience. It enables automation of routine tasks, such as security, heating and lighting, which can lead to lower energy bills and improved home management.