It’s not only the sheer volume of IoT devices on the market that is growing exponentially, it’s also the types of devices being introduced. To most people, IoT devices used to entail baby monitors, digital speakers, and doorbell cams. But now, there are AI-powered toothbrushes, self-cleaning kitty litter boxes, and even smart belts to hold your pants up. It’s a technology boom in the IoT world, and consumers can’t seem to get enough.

As 4G gives way to 5G, newer and faster ways to connect are being introduced, and more devices are able to go mobile. IoT is no longer just for the home. In an Avast-sponsored study of today’s digital trends, IDC concluded that the average number of smart devices in use will continue to multiply year over year, with an estimated 500 million wearable devices and 1.6 billion smart home devices expected to be in use by 2024. 

This is good news for network operators as there will be no shortage of consumers needing their service. But from a security perspective – how will they keep up with such a rapidly growing attack surface? More devices, more data, more mobility, and more bandwidth all impact and increase a user's “attack surface,” meaning it’s a bigger target, making it easier for cybercriminals to hit. 

Yes, even your doorbell camera remains vulnerable

More than half of U.S. consumers are “highly concerned” over the security of their smart home devices, according to a recent IDC survey. With high profile data breaches turning up every week in the news, it’s no wonder why. While these breaches tend to involve databases belonging to large enterprises, they bring the concepts of data privacy and protection to the forefront. Add in all the reports of hacked baby monitors and hacked doorbell cameras, and consumers are finding plenty to worry about, including identity theft, password theft, malware, and remote surveillance. 

The only solution moving forward is a holistic and unified defense for all devices and data both inside and outside the home. We call it Digital Life Protection. Most people move through their days hooking into different online portals, whether it be their home broadband, mobile 4G, mobile 5G, public Wi-Fi networks, or somewhere else. As their devices fluidly shift from one to the other, they want to feel confident that their security stays strong and constant throughout. This is where Avast Smart Life comes in.

We use a standardized platform architecture that allows us to deploy security measures at the device, router, and 5G edge level. This ensures complete coverage while letting users manage all their digital security through a single interface. It’s the future of security, and we’re proud to be the first cybersecurity company to offer it.

Network operators have been partnering with Avast for over 15 years. Our direct integrations and GTM support bolster our partners’ products, helping them provide leading security and family solutions smoothly and effortlessly. And now we look forward to equipping them with our award-winning AI-powered Smart Life, which brings together security, privacy, and digital wellness in a whole home solution.

• Broadband operators can integrate our firmware directly onto their routers, allowing customers to simply sign-up for our service.
• Mobile operators can offer a hardware extension at the router level or integrate Smart Life as a white-labeled mobile app at the 5G edge.
• Device manufacturers can leverage our underlying technology through SDKs to integrate security and privacy solutions onto devices.

Download the full IDC whitepaper and learn more about how your network can deploy the Avast Smart Life platform by visiting our website.