Singapore may be one of the safest countries in the world, but with home security and smart home technology growing increasingly accessible and affordable, it’s no surprise that more homeowners are seeking out smart home security solutions for their peace of mind!

Sitting on the fence for whether you should get such a system of your own? If you’re still deliberating, here are 3 things you should know to help you make that choice – and decide on the right type of home security setup for your needs.

1. Smart Home Security Offers More Than Just Peace of Mind

The first reason that typically comes to mind for most homeowners on why they should own a home security system would likely be for the peace of mind and added safety it provides.

No doubt, security gadgets, for instance surveillance cameras and video doorbells, may provide an insight towards what’s happening at home while you may be away; and on the other hand, detection sensors also serve to alert you whenever there is the potential of any threats in your home environment. That said, the umbrella of security gadgets extends far beyond cameras and detection sensors and includes popular smart devices such as the Smart Door Lock, Motion and Contact Sensors.

An increasingly popular smart home security item – a smart door lock.

With Smart Door Locks providing more than one way for owners to access their home (through passcodes, the app, and their fingerprint) and Motion and Contact Sensors offering motion-detection automation through the linking of their smart devices (e.g. turning on the toilet lights at night), smart home security gadgets can do far more than safeguard one’s home. Given the benefits such as easier home access and effortless control over one’s home system, smart home security gadgets simultaneously offer owners greater convenience.

In fact, many of these smart security devices are increasingly touted as a new staple for those getting their homes in the 21^st century. After all, with so many other things to think about from day to day, the last thing you want to be concerned with is whether you’ve left your keys back at home, or if the toilet lights are still on from when you used it in the morning.

2. Integrating Your Home Security to Your Smart Home System Can Grant You More Security Features

Contrary to popular belief, purchasing a smart security gadget isn’t quite the same as having a smart home security system.

That’s not to say that your smart device won’t work on its own. Whether you choose to purchase a standalone camera, sensor, or door lock to perform the job, or choose to integrate them to your smart home system, you will still get to enjoy the primary functionalities that you purchased these devices for.

So, what are these differences?

In a nutshell, much like the added benefits smart home owners gain from using a seamlessly integrated smart home system over different smart devices operating on different platforms and networks, the system provides additional ways for owners to link their security devices to other smart devices at home, granting greater utility and robustness in security overall.

Link up your smart security to your smart speakers to receive alerts audibly.

Imagine. Rather than the traditional way of being notified via the phone whenever your cameras, sensors and smart door lock detect suspicious activity, with a smart home system, you can now program your home to alert you through unmissable visual cues – such as the flashing of your living room lights – or via your smart speaker. These cues can also serve as a deterrence to unwelcomed guests when you are away, simply by simulating the presence of there being someone at home.

Beyond a security standpoint, integrating your smart security devices into your smart home ecosystem also offers other features. This includes being able to customise your smart door lock to automate the turning on of the living room lights and fans upon detecting that you have reached home, or your motion sensors to trigger recorded reminders from your smart speakers (e.g. ‘Please collect the mail today’) when sensing that someone has reached home during a certain time.

A great bonus if you ask us.

3. Not all Security Systems are Built Equally (or Even Securely)

Of course, there comes the greatest caveat of all times. As great as smart home ecosystems and their respective security gadgets may be, it would be pointless to purchase such devices should they not be secure themselves.

While it may seem laughable for a smart security device to be a weak link of its own, there have been increasing instances of smart home security succumbing to online hacking in Singapore, resulting in the leakage of personal data and information. This is partly due to the weak security provisions of many IoT devices in the market, abetted by the lack of vetted reporting for such products’ cyber security levels, preventing buyers from easily identifying devices that offer better security from those that do not.

Since 2020, new initiatives have since been implemented to improve the situation, such as the Cyber Security Labelling Scheme (CLS) by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) which identifies devices that meet the essential level of cyber security.

Manufacturers or retailers who have applied and met the required cyber security levels stipulated by the CSA will receive a CLS rating from Level 1 to Level 5.

Under the scheme, IoT suppliers can apply for CLS rating Level 1 to 4 for their devices, corresponding to the level of security that they have been proven to offer. The level 1 rating signalling that the device maker has met the essential safety requirements of offering a unique default password and automatic software updates for its products, while the highest level 4 rating indicates manufacturer products that have passed structured penetration tests approved by third-party labs.

Additionally, there are also international standard accreditations (e.g. the ISO 9001) that manufacturers can get certified for – several of which pertaining specifically to information security, for those who are concerned about their data privacy.

What can You do to Ensure Security within Your Home (and Smart Home)?

For those who are now convinced on investing in a smart home security system but fear of falling prey to cyber hacking and data leakage, here are a few ways to check that the smart devices you purchase offer a standard level of security.

1. Check for Any Product ISO Certifications

With many cyber scams these days leveraging on personal information that are leaked from poorly secured devices, it’s important to check if your device (or manufacturer) is certified for their information security.

Certain standards to look out for include the:

• ISO 27001, Certification For Information Security Management (ISMS)
• ISO 27017, Certification For Information Security of Cloud Computing
• ISO 27018, Certification for Protection of Personally Identifiable Information

These ISO standards indicate that the devices have met the code of practice for the establishment and operation of information security, in areas such as cloud computing and protection of one’s personal data in the cloud.

2. Check for a CLS Certification

For the absolute peace of mind, tap on the CSA’s list of products registered under the CLS to check that the device you wish to purchase has attained at least a Level 1 rating.

While the list may currently not be as extensive due to the recency of the certification, products featured do cover a relatively wide spectrum, from the brain of the smart home system, Smart Hubs (e.g. Koble’s Smart Hub (Zigbee)), to Smart Switches (e.g. Koble’s Pro Series Glass Touch Switch) and other smart home essentials.

Looking for a Smart Home Security System You Can Trust?

Look no further. Here at Koble, we strive to offer home solutions that you can trust, by ensuring that your data is protected to the highest level.

In addition to being one of the few companies with products bearing a CLS rating, Koble’s smart home system also possesses the following ISO Certifications – the ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, and the ISO 27018.

Furthermore, all Koble devices are highly encrypted and connected via a Zigbee network. Using the Advanced Encryption Standard 258 and 128 to secure connections between your router, app, and smart home devices, this ensures that your smart home system can function even when your Wi-Fi is down, and that even while control commands are being carried out, your router has no visibility to the content and information shared within your smart home system. Data to the cloud is also secured via Transmission encryption TLS1.2, a protocol that mandates mutual authentication before the sharing of any information – an added level of security to prevent cyber hacking from the cloud.

Keen to learn more about Koble’s smart home solutions? Book a session to visit our Showroom at 73 Ubi Road 1, Lobby 5, #07-54 Oxley Bizhub, Singapore 408733 down below or contact Koble at 88271541/ 89300184.

Get the smarter life you deserve today!