How many devices are connected on your wireless network right now? Most likely a phone, tablet, your computer and printer. Maybe some video game consoles or some sort of streaming device. The average American household has around 10 connected devices. The numbers are expected to rise exponentially. With the influx of smart technology many homes are taking advantage of the trend. If you are looking into making your home or office smarter pay attention, because the disorganization of your smart products can bring chaos to your wireless network.
Open Source Systems
This is what your wireless network may look like if you have multiple smart devices. Each individual device is connected via Wi-Fi and can be controlled through an app or a smart assistant.
In essence everything is running off of your Wi-Fi. All of your devices continuously “talk” to your router through the Wi-Fi signal. In turn the router then communicates to the server platform that these smart devices connect to. From there the server sends the message back to the router and the router sends a signal via Wi-Fi to the device issuing a command.
With that in mind, you are opening your network up for possible threats. The strength of your network is compromised when you are allowing so many devices to communicate this way.
The Downfall
Over time more and more smart technologies are going to make their way into our homes. To many people it just makes sense to use it. With time, maintaining these products and your network, is going to be exhausting. When a power outage occurs all of these smart devices are going to go haywire upon booting up again. Each of them fighting for a signal. When a signal is established the devices are now labeled differently to each other. This becomes confusing to the devices. The result is that the devices are no longer going to work together. Luckily Advanced Integrated Controls has a remedy for this.
Native Controlled
This is what an Elan home system looks like. A network switch powered by an Elan processor. This is a major advantage in using smart technology in your home.
Wi-Fi is closed off from all of the smart devices and a firewall is installed, ran through a network switch powered with an Elan processor and then assigned its own IP address. Smart device have its own assigned address, there is no confusion upon power failure. When the devices power up, they know exactly how to function and communicate with each other.
This prevents massive Wi-Fi clutter.
The Firewall
Imagine a bank vault that doesn’t have a lock. The only thing keeping the vault guarded is a screen door. Seems really silly right? Well right now that is your network unless you have a setup with a firewall. You are opening up your devices for vulnerability without a proper network setup. When using devices like security cameras, especially those placed in your house, you absolutely need to invest in a firewall. While no vulnerabilities may show up in a company’s server, there are those who can intercept signals and data, leaving you and your network, wide open.
For a professional install of a native controlled smart home, contact us today. At Advanced Integrated Controls, it is our goal to keep our clients connected to the world, with the best possible technology for their needs.
