Are smart locks safe?
The first question you should ask is are smart locks safer than regular mechanical locks and keys. The answer to that is a big yes.
Mechanical keys can easily be copied or loaned to someone who doesn’t have the authority to use them. And, if they are lost or stolen, there is an enormous risk that they will fall into the wrong hands reducing the security to yourself, your property and the assets contained in it. It’s also a big cost and headache for property owners and locking system administrators alike.
Are smart key locks safe?
Let’s take a look at the different ways to get access using a smart key lock and how safe they are.
- Digital-key-based smart locks: digital keys operate in the same way as traditional keys. Put the key into the lock, turn it and the lock opens. This makes it an ideal solution, for example, for older people, people with certain disabilities (such as visual impairments) or for very young children.
The major benefit of digital keys is that they contain all the access credentials a person needs to move around their property or the place they work on just one key. These access credentials can be remotely updated in real time (for example, if new facilities are added to a building) or immediately cancelled (for example, if a key is lost or stolen). There’s no need to carry around bulky bunches of keys or waste time trying to find the right one. This makes them both smart, secure and convenient to use.
With smart locking solutions, such as iLOQ’s, digital keys can also be used with technology such as door or wall readers. These are usually be found next to the main entrance door of a building. Just hold the key against the reader and, if you have the correct access credentials, the door opens.
- Smartphone-based smart locks: there are currently over 7.2 billion smartphones in the world and that figure is set to increase still further in the coming years. Smartphones are being used not only for making calls, but also, for example, to search the internet, play games, watch films, and make payments. Thanks to smart-lock technology, smartphones can now also be used to get access.
With iLOQ’s solution, access credentials are sent remotely and in real time to an app running on the smartphone. Just hold the phone against the iLOQ smart lock, the electromagnetic induction of the phone creates the power to check if you have the correct access credentials and, if you do, open the lock. Smartphones can also be used with readers. And, once again, the access credentials can be updated remotely and in real time to ensure that only the right people can get access.
- Smart key fobs: key fobs are an alternative way of getting access to properties that have door or wall readers. They are also an ideal back up to smartphone-based locking solutions if, for example, the smartphone is out of battery power. This ensures only the right people have access and there is no risk of not being able to get into your property if your smartphone has been lost or stolen or simply out of battery.
How safe are smart locks in comparison to traditional locks?
As described above, smart locks are physically much safer than traditional locks as there are no risks related to lost, stolen or unreturned keys (for example, at the end of a rental agreement). Remote updates to access credentials in real time ensures only the right people have access to the right places at the right times.
That covers the security of our properties and their assets. But, today, we also need to be concerned about cyber security.
If you are wondering what cyber security is, it refers to the technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, devices, programs, and data from cyber threats. These threats range from hacking, phishing, and malware to ransomware and other forms of exploitation. These are scary words, but what does ‘protecting against them’ mean in practice?
In the world of smart locking, we need to build a resilient defence system that safeguards sensitive information and prevents unauthorized access. In iLOQ’s case, this involves securing physical access points managed by our smart locking solutions while adhering to the highest standards of information security.
Access sharing functionality also means that you can grant temporary access for specific times to, for example, guests, for deliveries or for 3rd-party services (such as cleaners). You will know exactly when they have accessed your property and have the power to revoke that access whenever you need to – much easier than having to get a physical key back from someone.
What are the components of cyber security in smart-locking systems?
- Network security: protects the integrity of data as it is transmitted and accessed.
- Application security: ensures software remains free from vulnerabilities through regular updates, secure coding practices, and patch management.
- Data security: focuses on encryption, secure storage, and access controls to prevent unauthorized use or corruption.
- Physical security: incorporates smart locking solutions, like those from iLOQ, that use advanced encryption and cloud-based controls to secure access points.
As a growth company, iLOQ is expanding internationally and the number of users and data we deal with daily is rapidly increasing. Our strong, global, cloud-based infrastructure ensures that our access management solutions are secure and resilient, that they are operational at all times, and are protected against a wide range of cyber threats (including data breaches, unauthorized access, and attacks which aim to temporarily or indefinitely disrupt services).
Can smart locks be physically broken?
Smart locks made by reputable companies are extremely robust. This ensures that they work reliably in all kinds of weathers and harsh environments. Companies, such as iLOQ, carry out extremely rigorous testing procedures and our products are verified with different kinds of ‘burglar’ tests. These include attacks with several tools including drills, steel saws, crowbars, hammers and sledgehammers, to mention a few.
Can smart locks be hacked?
Technically, smart locks can be hacked through, for example Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi. However, companies like iLOQ provide state-of-the-art security by utilizing:
- Mutual authentication which is a desired characteristic in verification schemes that transmit sensitive data, in order to ensure data security.
- Strong AES-256 encryption (the highest Advanced Encryption Standard) which is a virtually impenetrable symmetric encryption algorithm that uses a 256-bit key to convert your plain text or data into a cipher.
Are smart locks as safe as houses?!
As the phrase suggests, the idea of ‘home’ should be a safe haven or shelter. With the right kind of smart lock from a company that is dedicated to innovating the smartest and most secure solutions, you can be confident that you, your property or the place you work and the assets contained in it are protected both today and for the foreseeable future.
