INDUSTRY FOCUS

Security behind the Front Door

My nature is being skeptical about securing the home. Maybe because a home is a small target or I figure that deadbolt is enough. I have started taking home security and smart home technology more serious.

Data offered by Trading Platforms says Smart Home technology has become more accessible in recent years. Usage rates are rising significantly in the United States. Apparently, the number of Smart Home users in the United States will surpass 50 million this year. More than $28.9 billion will flow throughout the United States.

How did I miss this news?

The Smart Home market is loaded with incredible technology, and I had to learn this the hard way. While doing a little DIY work outside and around the house, I thought of a plan to change the doorbell. It did not work, and it stayed that way for quite a while. In trying to figure out how to run those nasty wires, the thought came to mind, “why not wireless?”

Almost as if it was supposed to be this way, I made the change, and my home was starting to get smarter. So, make that 50 million and one end users.

What else might I upgrade to make my home smarter? First, I had better connect with a security integrator associate, who knows a lot more than I could ever imagine.

My garage door has been giving me fits. Come to find out, my friend, Alexa knows a little something about smart garage door controllers, among other things. These devices are improving in both simplicity and capability. Maybe the garage door is not on your to do list right now or the foreseeable future, a smart garage door controller has some advantages. This advantage catches my eye. Not only can you open and shut the door from anywhere so that you can let guests, family or delivery people in, you will also know whether the door is open or closed in real time.

Smart Home revenues in the United States should increase at a steady pace over the same period, growing at a CAGR of 12.82% and reaching $46.8 billion by 2025. The smart appliance segment will generate the largest share of revenue in 2021 at $8 billion. Security follows close behind at $5 billion. By 2025, security is likely to account for more than $8 billion of all U.S. Smart Home revenues.

There is a lot to protect in a home, more than just the front door bell. The United States currently has the highest penetration rate, (40.1%) in smart home technology, followed the UK at 37.4%. By 2024, the penetration rate in the United States should surpass 50%. Maybe the front doorbell is a good place to start.

This article originally appeared in the July / August 2021 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.