CE Pro January 2022 - 38

STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
Top 5 Technologies
Trend #2
Using Cybersecurity
as a Differentiator
The hacking threat to the smart
home will only grow. It's time to stop
ignoring cybersecurity and use it as a
differentiator of your professionalism.
By CE Pro Editors
THERE MAY NOT BE A smart-home topic that integrators
want to avoid more than " cybersecurity, " but the
time for ignoring it is over.
According to an exclusive Cybersecurity Study conducted
by CE Pro back in 2020, only 27% of integrators reported that
they offer any level of cybersecurity solution for their clients
beyond what it is embedded in the hardware supplied by the
network manufacturer. Indeed, a great majority of integrators
(79%) believe the built-in protection from their hardware suppliers
is sufficient protection for their clients. Meanwhile, the
2022 CE Pro State of the Industry Study in this issue reports
that integrators predict just a 2.8% growth in the category
this year.
But despite this lackluster enthusiasm for the category, the
problem is not going to wane. According to Parks Associates
79% of broadband households in the U.S. are concerned about
their data security and privacy. The average number of IoT
devices per home is now 37 and there are expected to be 50
billion IoT devices by 2030, according to data cited recently
by the British government, which recently announced a bill
that would outlaw the use of basic passwords and heavily fine
manufacturers and integrators that do not comply.
Additionally, the Work from Home (WFH) trend introduced
an even greater threat for malware and other viruses as
employees started using their inadequately protected home
networks. A recent study from HP determined global cyberattacks
have risen 238% since the onset of the pandemic. Ransomware
situations seem to be part of the daily news cycle.
So with all this evidence, what is the hesitation among
integrators about offering cybersecurity? The crux of the
problem could be a similar issue that homebuilders faced
regarding security systems for decades. For many years,
builders did not want to offer security systems for their newly
constructed homes because they were worried it would plant
38 | CE Pro January 2022
Most integrators do not offer their clients a specific cybersecurity
solution beyond what the networking hardware
manufacturers have built into their products.
a seed of thought in the minds of prospective buyers that the
neighborhood was " unsafe. " Similarly, smart home integrators
might be concerned that by mentioning cybersecurity they
are introducing the notion to the client that the system is
susceptible to being hacked.
But that train has left the station, so to speak. The truth is
that smart home systems can be hacked, but integrators can
bring their clients more peace of mind with a proper cybersecurity
solution. Also, a comprehensive cybersecurity offering
further separates custom integrators from DIY systems and
less-professional trunk-slammers.
Lastly, there is a potential recurring monthly revenue (RMR)
stream from cybersecurity. According to the aforementioned
CE Pro Cybersecurity Study, integrators believe clients will
pay between $35 and $150 per month to protect their data.
So What Should Integrators Do?
There are basic steps integrators can take to become cybersecurity
experts, including using the Consumer Technology
cepro.com
http://www.cepro.com
CE Pro January 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CE Pro January 2022
