Smart homes can become complicated fast. This guide explains how DFN’s Managed WiFi helps organize your devices, improve security, reduce network issues, and keep your smart home running smoothly.
Smart lights, talking speakers, and appliances that can remind you what you’re out of—sometimes it feels like we’re living in a Jetsons episode. But the more smart devices you add, the more your home relies on a strong, well-organized network.
DFN’s fiber internet and Managed WiFi help keep all those devices running in harmony, making your smart home easier to manage and far more reliable.
What Is the Internet of Things (IoT)?
Smart homes are part of something much bigger called the Internet of Things, or IoT.
According to IBM, the Internet of Things is “a network of physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing them to collect and share data.”
In other words, smart devices are IoT devices because they connect to the internet. Your home network is part of this larger Internet of Things as your devices communicate with each other and with the outside world.
How to Organize Your Smart Home Network
While it may seem obvious that smart home devices live on your network just like your laptops, phones, TVs, and tablets, they often get forgotten because you don’t interact with them directly every day.
When you start noticing issues either with the devices or with your internet, you can troubleshoot more easily if you are able to see a “picture” of your network at a high level. This picture can show you if the troubling device is connected and has a strong signal, which can help you identify if the problem lies elsewhere.
A high-level look at your network can show how much bandwidth each connected device is using. If one of the devices is spiking in usage, that could be updating – or, it could be passing unauthorized traffic. A device that isn’t passing any traffic might not be connected or working properly.
However, if that “picture” just shows a bunch of devices that are labeled with strings of numbers and letters, you’ll have a much harder time figuring out what’s what. With our Managed WiFi app, you can label your devices and assign them to rooms or people to keep a clean, manageable network. (Plus, these features also allow you to set priorities and parental controls for groups of devices!)
Use a Dedicated IoT Network
Replace: Why You Need a Separate Network for Smart Devices
Instead of keeping your smart devices connected to your primary network, consider creating a new SSID, or WiFi name, dedicated to your smart home devices.
A segmented network increases your data security. IoT devices often don’t have the same built-in security measures as laptops and mobile devices. If a smart device is hacked, a separate network helps keep your data safe.
This setup also improves your overall network performance. Your streaming and office devices won’t experience cross-talk from “chatty” plugs, lightbulbs, or thermostats.
DFN’s Managed WiFi app allows you the freedom to create as many networks as you need, though we would recommend keeping it simple with separate networks for home, guests, and IoT devices. This setup, paired with cleanly labeled devices for that clean “picture,” will go a long way toward keeping your smart home running smoothly.
How to Control Smart Devices from One App
Today, most smart devices use an app from the manufacturer for setup. Additionally, you can use other apps or voice assistants to control all of the smart devices individually, as well as setting up routines that operate multiple devices at once.
When you’re setting up a smart home, choose devices that are compatible and that can be operated on a simplified app ecosystem, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or Apple HomeKit. Fewer apps to manage these devices means less hassle for you. Similarly, if you use a voice assistant, make sure the devices you buy are compatible with it.
Just like your phones and computers need regular updates for new features and security patches, smart home devices need regular firmware updates. As you add more and more devices to your network, it will be easier to verify that updates are applied if they are managed through one app.
How DFN Managed WiFi Supports Your Smart Home
With the lightning-fast speeds and high-capacity bandwidth available through DFN’s fiber network, you can create smart home automations straight out of Orbit City.
DFN’s fiber internet and Managed WiFi give you the bandwidth, stability, and control your smart home needs. Contact us to make sure your network is fully optimized for all your devices.
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