Smart Door Hardware: Modern Solutions for Home Security

Not only are homes providing shelter, they’re places where people keep their treasured belongings. Homeowners continue seeking the best ways to protect their homes from intruders and unforeseen accidents. Fortunately, modern technology keeps improving to the point that home security now offers ways to protect and allow owners to keep watch while outside. 

Interested homeowners looking for trusty smart door hardware will come across multiple types. These intelligent door hardware offer various security functions that cater to many needs. Here are some of the hardware types and their security functions. 

Bluetooth Smart Door Hardware

Bluetooth door hardware lets owners control their homes’ security without an internet connection. The downside is that Bluetooth only works in a short-range wireless protocol. Owners can manage their door locks at a close distance, giving improved security. When homeowners get their phones stolen, the thief won’t be able to control their home security without knowing the location. The mobile device must be close enough to the locks to control the hardware. 

The close-range quality of Bluetooth hardware won’t provide remote access when homeowners are away. Some Bluetooth hardware does allow users to control the security from a distance when combined with a smart home hub. These hubs may offer devices compatible with Ring devices or Apple HomeKit. 

Homeowners can use a CR2 battery to power Bluetooth door hardware that lasts approximately a year. When the lock offers a Wi-Fi connection, it can last longer. 

Wi-Fi Smart Door Hardware

Compared to Bluetooth locks, Wi-Fi-powered door hardware connects to the home’s Wi-Fi network. As it’s always online, homeowners can control their home security from anywhere. Wi-Fi locks give local control, and some offer both without the help of integrations or additional hubs. 

The downside of Wi-Fi door hardware is the power consumption. They’re more significant than Bluetooth devices and require owners to change batteries more frequently. They may come in bulkier shapes as the device often requires multiple batteries. 

Many prefer Wi-Fi hardware as it offers a long-range connection. The lock doesn’t have to be near a router or the access point to connect.

Smart Garage Hardware

Manufacturers create separate smart locks for homeowners to monitor their garage doors using their mobile devices. People often forget to lock their garage doors, and garage hardware may be the best solution to help them do so from a distance. 

The other function of garage hardware is that the lock provides a secure package delivery system. Homeowners can connect their garage hardware with Walmart InHome or Amazon Key to get the delivery system.

The delivery function may not appeal to everyone, as Walmart InHome can give the associate access to the owner’s garage or place the groceries right inside the owner’s refrigerator. However, it can be a helpful tool for owners who prefer getting their groceries ready before they return home. 

Safety Concerns

People switching from traditional locks to an automatic intelligent system might doubt the locks’ safety. However, these hardware come with the security measures that standard locks have. 

When a homeowner wants to access their locks’ features, the key app will require them to log in. The app will use an account ID and password to unlock. The login information is under the system’s encryption protection (mostly 128-bit encryption) to mask all data input. Intruders without access to the home’s Wi-Fi or the knowledge of the app’s password won’t be able to control the hardware. 

The app often comes with a two-factor authentication requiring users to take another step before logging in. Some apps need a unique PIN the user has set before or a one-time password sent to the owner’s phone number. Without the two-factor authentication confirmation, users won’t be able to change any security setting the smart lock has. 

On the other hand, like other technology programs, smart door hardware isn’t impossible to hack. The lock’s system connects to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so it’s easier to breach when the software is dated. The good news is most intruders rely on the traditional method of breaking in, like using a crowbar to force the door open. If such a case happens, the app will notify homeowners of the attempt. 

To ensure the system is more challenging to breach, homeowners should choose a reliable manufacturer with multiple security measures. They also must actively protect their accounts by creating unique and complex passwords that outsiders can’t easily guess.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Although smart door hardware is the latest solution to improve home security, they don’t come without disadvantages. Homeowners aiming to change their traditional door system with smart locks must consider these pros and cons.

Advantages: Convenience

Unlike traditional door security, homeowners don’t have to carry their keys when they go outside. Keys are small in size, and they’re easy to lose. Depending on the type of intelligent door locks, users would likely only need their phone acting as the key. 

Advantages: Accessibility

A homeowner with multiple family members living in one house won’t have to duplicate the key. Smart door locks give easier access to share the unique codes for more than one person. Some hardware also allows owners to make a time-restricted code to give their chosen guests access. 

Advantages: Notifications

In case there’s a burglary attempt, owners will quickly get notifications regarding their home safety. It doesn’t matter where they’re at; they can promptly secure their home and stop intruders from breaking. This is also useful for people who often leave their home. They’ll receive notification if a family member returns while they’re still outside or if their kids sneak out at night. 

Disadvantages: Practicality

Smart hardware relies heavily on the users’ mobile devices, so it’ll be inconvenient for homeowners if their phones die. They will lose every access the system offers if they forget to charge their phones on a busy day. 

Disadvantages: Power Requirements

Unlike traditional locks, smart hardware needs a battery to function. Users must also consistently update the system to ensure the security remains tight. Hardware connected to Wi-Fi can stop working in case of a power outage at home. 

Disadvantages: Learning Curve

It may take some time for owners to adapt to their new intelligent door hardware if they’ve used traditional locks for a long time. Learning for older family members who don’t often use smartphones daily might also be more complicated.

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