On September 28, the Connectivity Standards Alliance released the specification for the smart home standard Matter 1.0. “The Matter specification defines fundamental requirements to enable an interoperable application layer solution for smart home devices over the Internet Protocol.” Matter allows communication between devices on the local network, and it is encrypted.
Note
- While there seems to be a plethora of IoT standards organizations, the CSA-IoT has some big names on board: Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, etc. The security concepts are thorough and complex, however – over the long run, low end/consumer grade “thing” providers are unlikely to reach that level anytime soon but certification against the CSA-IoT standards would provide procurements with a key criterion for selecting secure devices.
- Having a clear interoperability standard, to include required encryption, is a huge step forward for IOT devices. And Amazon, Google, and Apple are expected to release Matter 1.0 certified devices in the next month or so. The trick is that 1.0 is limited to relatively simple devices like plugs, switches and light bulbs; basic sensors and controllers for garage doors, shades or blinds; and of course, hubs and bridges. Watch for firmware updates to add Matter compatibility over time to your existing devices as well as updates to the standard to add devices not currently covered. This could be a much more interesting conversation prior to Christmas 2023. In the meantime remember to leverage separate networks for those devices and consider what connectivity you provide them. Your wireless hotspot’s out of the box guest WiFi could be the interim solution you’re looking for.
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