Not everyone is a fan of the cloud, and there are some potential downsides to consider before you commit to a cloud based smart home system. One of the biggest complaints about the cloud is that it can be unreliable. If your internet goes down, or if the servers hosting your data is overcrowded, you may not be able to access your smart home devices or control them. This can be a major inconvenience, especially if you rely on your smart devices to perform daily tasks like scene control or temperature control.
Today, we will discuss the potential downsides of cloud based smart home systems and why some people prefer to avoid them.
What Is a Cloud Based SmartHome System?
A cloud based smart home system is a system in which the device information, room allocation, scene settings and system controls for your devices are stored on remote servers, rather than within the home network itself.
This means that you require an internet connection (to send signals from the cloud to the various devices via WIFI in the home) to access and control your devices.
What Is a Local Based Smart Home System?
A local based smart home system is a system in which the device information, room allocation, scene settings and system controls for your devices are stored within the home network. This means that you do not need an internet connection to access or control your devices.
Downsides of Cloud Based SmartHome Systems
CloudBased - Reliant on InternetÂ
There's a downside to going with a cloud based smart home setup. That is, your smart home is entirely reliant on the quality of your Wi-Fi signal.
So if your internet connection goes down, or the company's servers do, you could lose control of some, or all, of your smart home devices.
For a cloud based system, the smart device would need to pull and send signals of the rules and logic from the cloud via Wi-Fi.
Smart devices are only as smart as the internet connections they have. If the internet goes down, so do your smart devices.
Whereasfor a smart home system running on local server, the rules and logic are all stored in a Hub (within the home), and the system is independent from internet disruptions or infrastructural limitations on the remote server.
Some smart hubs are capable of sending signals to certain smart home devices via API encryption, with no need for internet connection, or even intercom stations via LAN cables.
CloudBased – Reliant on Company’s Cloud Based Services
Another downside of going with a cloud based smart home system is that you’re reliant on the company’s servers.
If the company goes out of business, or decides to shut down its servers, you could lose control of your smart home devices.
Cloudbased systems at times face security issues.
CloudBased - Security
Most homecloud connections are relatively easy for hackers to gain access to. In the event of an attack, your home can be brought under their control.
With a local setup, all of your data stays on your home network. So even if a company’s servers are hacked, your data will still be safe at home. A hacker would need to physically be on your property to gain access to your local network - which is a lot harder than hacking into a remote server.
CloudBased - Privacy
When youuse a cloud-based system, you are essentially giving a company permission to access and store all of the data from your home. This includes everything from the passwords you use to unlock your doors to the schedule of when your kids come home from school.
With alocal setup, all of this data stays on your own network. The hub is a computer with its own web browser, which you can use to access your personal data. Sensitive data (schedules, automation rules) are retained locally on the device.
CloudBased - Reliability
Cloud-based systems are more likely to experience downtime than local systems. This is because they rely on the internet, as well as the speed of the provider's cloud servers.
For local based smart home systems, the equipment and software are the only sources of failure, and internet access is only required for remote access.
If your internet connection goes down, you will still be able to control your devices using the local hub. Of course, if the power goes out, or the hub itself breaks, you will lose control of your devices.
The Home-A-Genius Difference
Home-A-Geniusis different than other smart home Singapore systems on the market because it was designed withsecurity and privacy in mind - with no reliance on a cloud platform.
Home-A-Genius uses a proprietary mesh network that does not rely on the internet or Bluetooth to function. This means that your system will continue to work even if the power goes out or your internet connection.
Rules and logic are all stored in the Home-A-Genius hub, and the system is independent
from internet disruptions.
Our systems do not adopt a full Zigbee protocol to avoid reliance on a signal point
- where there can be a single point of failure.
