As you’re settling into your new home or renovating, no doubt one of your top priorities will be to get your home automation system fully functional or to start automating your dig if you have never done this before. With the mandated work from home due to coronavirus, most of us are happy working in PJs and enjoying the fine balance of work and lifestyle, however, it does mean we need to have the tech essentials to keep us going.

The first and most important step is to ensure a reliable and secure wifi setup at home. Believe me, the last thing you want to say in a Zoom or MS Teams meeting is that your connection is bad or slow or worse off, compromised. We recommend a fibre connection with a security at all endpoints in your home network. You can do this by strengthening your wifi encryption, changing your SSID (Service Set Identifier) so that it doesn’t give away the router brand or model which is usually configured as a default from your service provider and keeping your network hidden from visitors and hackers. You will also have to stop the router using DHCP, which means Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, which allows hackers to easily manipulate your network- You need to change that to a Static IP. It gets techy, oh yes.

Don’t forget to turn on the firewall and ensure that all firmware updates hit your device.

Secondly, I recommend good quality security cameras for peace of mind when you’re home or away from home. Cameras can range from weather resistant robust ones to high definition, low light and night vision ones. Home security cameras aren’t just useful for policing your valuables, car and property; they’re also helpful for keeping an eye on kids and furry friends. A security camera with facial recognition by your front door can send you a push notification saying, “Kids are at the front door,” so you know your children are home safely. If you are not at home, you can allow the Fedex delivery driver to enter your gate and ward off the door-to-door sales rep, all with a click of a button on the App from your smartphone. Access a record of all events at your home and do not forget alarms:)

Stay tuned for the fun part in our next blog and get creative in the spaces you live in with smart entertainment – Music, TV, gaming, VR and more.