In our previous post, we outlined the difficulty of taking on the Internet of Things by yourself as a homeowner. From different Internet protocols and lots of unique equipment to juggle – the smartest homeowners leave the setup and maintenance of their devices to IT professionals. Why? They’re informed. As a proactive homeowner, yourself, you’re halfway through our lesson on the Internet of Things.

 3. Internet of Things Security is Always a Worry

That’s not to say that the Internet of Things is lax on security – au contraire, that’s just to say consumers are always worried. According to security experts, it’s unlikely that a hacker would take the time hack the low-power radio traffic within your smart home. Remember all of those different Internet protocols? Smart device Z-Wave and Zigbee signals are relatively weak and hardly contain any data. In most cases, all they transmit is on/off commands:  “lights on, lights off.”  

For this reason, cybercriminals aren’t likely to hit your devices first. They’re after your router. They want to get into your computer or smartphone, which are ‘Things’ you should have protected long before you introduced the Internet of Things into your home. Don’t worry about the Things, themselves – worry about securing your Internet.

What’s the solution? If consulting a professional makes you feel better, contact our experts at Tech Help Boston. We’ll give you plenty of advice and peace of mind to top it off. In truth, it’s impossible to fully secure a large network, but as consumers we have to trust the manufacturers take every possible measure to ensure that our data is secure. It keeps them competitive, and us coming back to buy more devices. 

4. You’d Be Surprised Where to Find the Best Tech Support.

Most brands provide a warranty –in case something goes wrong; however, as discussed in the previous post, your furnace won’t be covered by your Nest thermostat warranty – if the thermostat is at fault, and neither will your router. Today, customers need the assurance of preventative maintenance to save them the time and headache of unnecessary phone calls and paperwork.  

The creator of the device or the manufacturer – is generally the first to field any tech support questions. However, for many of these manufacturers, support is just an afterthought, in keeping with their product pitch: “this smart device is so easy to use, you won’t need our help once it’s setup!” Well, we know that’s untrue. Plus, as you amass more and more products – it becomes a hassle keeping track of all your point of contacts, right?

 Furthermore, we often run into more lack-of-help when we try to contact our Internet carrier. Yes, they’ll offer installation and activation service, but  fail to keep up with the increasing complexity of your smart home as you pack on devices.  Imagine a slower and slower Internet connection.  You want efficient and cost-effective, right?

That’s where third-party support providers come into play. That’s your best bet when it comes to Internet of Things support. Take Tech Help Boston as an example. We’ve evolved our tech support businesses from more traditional home/business IT (i.e., computers, tablets, routers, smart phones), to address the increasingly complex needs of the Internet of Things. Again, the Internet of Things is a huge network, not a single product.  We have no service agenda other than support. And the right third parties — purpose-built for supporting the consumer and their environment, can handle any device, any brand, any Internet Protocol.

From product purchase, installation, onboarding, training, activation, advanced usage, and optimization – Tech Help Boston has you covered.

5. Internet of Things Benefits are Huge.

Think back to that Nest thermostat. Now, imagine all the time you’ll save on tiny little chores and the money you’ll save on utilities and other home expenses when you automate all of your utilities.  All you have to do, is rely on a professional to set everything up, tell you what you really need to know, and watch your heating, cooling, and electricity costs pay back the cost of your devices, ten times over.

Don’t allow yourself to be misled. While smart devices are incredibly easy to use, a smart home certainly isn’t one, you can do-yourself without professional help.

 Questions? Connect with us at TechHelpBoston.com for further guidance and resources, including our free visual guides to Wi-Fi, blog posts on the Internet of Things and more!