Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Progress in an Increasingly Connected World

The average internet household has more than 17 connected devices.

This number jumped in the past 3 years as more work shifted into the home and households adopt new connected product types like connected health, security, and entertainment devices. Yet, with that growth comes real risks that collected data may be accessed inappropriately or that devices and networks may be hacked. As consumers become reliant on their connected devices and services, stories of hacks and identity theft cause consumers to wonder if they can trust their brands ?to treat their data with care.

Several initiatives and strategies are making real movement towards a more secure connected home:

? FCC introduces U.S. Cyber Trust Mark: The FCC launched a voluntary cybersecurity labeling program. Products that meet the standard will feature the US Cyber Trust Mark on packaging and a QR code that features updated product security information after purchase. Amazon, Samsung, Google, LG,? and BestBuy, among others, support the initiative.

? Matter raises the floor: The Connectivity Standards Alliance’s Matter standard, designed to foster device interoperability over IP at the application level, includes cybersecurity measures that all Matter-certified products must meet, thereby raising the data security floor for any product partaking in its ecosystem.?

Matters recent announcement about its own mark and certification process for device security was announced week of March 18.

? Products more secure by design:? Smart product OEMs continue to introduce features aimed at securing data, limiting data sharing, and assuaging consumers’ concerns.

? Ring introduced a built-in privacy shutter with the latest version of the Ring Indoor Cam.

? Savant unveiled its Smart Network solution that leverages cloud technology to perform AI-based network optimization but shares and stores no user data on the cloud.

? Apple – known for its stringent security measures – has amplified its messaging proclaiming its position of trust with the consumer.

Smart home players must honor consumer concerns and double efforts to secure their products. Trust can be gained through transparency about partnerships and data access, and through industry certification programs. When trust is honored, earned, and kept, it can be a competitive advantage.

At the same time, these certifications create additional costs for manufacturers. Being able to manage growing costs and the ability to support connected products is important.