Up until recently, home and building security had a problem with no ideal solution: No matter how sophisticated an alarm or lock system was, it could be rendered essentially useless because of simple forgetfulness. In other words, when the onus is on an individual to remember to set an alarm or lock doors as he or she is leaving the premises, the structure may be left vulnerable.
Simple slip-ups—like an employee misplacing an ID card, for example—can also create vulnerabilities. But the Internet of Things (IoT) offers solutions to this problem as it does for many challenges in numerous verticals. Here are a few ways building managers and homeowners can leverage the IoT to limit human error as a security risk:
Remote system control
Operating building systems from afar using an application on a smart device is perhaps the most widely known element of the building automation and controls market, which MarketsandMarkets predicts will grow to $55.48 billion by 2020, up from $29.78 billion in 2013. With the ability to manipulate systems easily from a device, a couple that realizes, as they sit down to their restaurant meal, that they forgot to activate their home alarm system can rectify the oversight in seconds and enjoy dining without worry.
Personal biometric identification
The concept of granting or denying access based on biometric elements is picking up steam for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, it is far more difficult—and in many cases nearly impossible—to fake a biometric signature than it is to gain access by stealing a password or finding and using an employee’s misplaced ID card. Biometric security solutions can conduct a retinal scan or record a vocal signature and, through IoT technology, authenticate it by checking it against records. Biometrics also offers added convenience for consumers and employees in that they no longer have to remember to carry keycards or entrance codes with them at all times.
Automated smart locks
Even if a building security guard, an office manager or homeowner remembers to lock doors and windows, he or she may overlook one potential entryway, and that oversight can be the reason a break-in occurs. Automated smart locks can mitigate this risk by relying on heat signatures or motion sensors to detect when a house or building is empty. If the lock system determines nobody is left inside, it can automatically secure the perimeter. Additionally, some smart locks allow building managers or homeowners to reset the lock’s cylinders quickly at any time, rendering any stolen or misplaced keys useless to anyone who finds them. Many of these products offer convenience on top of security, providing single-key access to any lock on the structure.
The IoT will continue to improve building security and facilitate innovation and convenience in numerous other industries. As the need for reliable wireless connectivity expands along with the IoT, 4G LTE wireless technology will be become increasingly critical to its growth. If you are interested in learning about why the IoT needs 4G LTE to reach its full potential, read this blog post.