Parks Associates: 71% of US Broadband Households with Smart Home Devices Concerned About Cybersecurity

DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates today released a new whitepaper, Cybersecurity Impact on Smart Home Market Growth, which finds 71% of US broadband households that own smart devices are concerned about cybersecurity. Twenty-five percent of those who do not own smart home devices are also concerned about privacy and security, which prevents them from buying smart devices.

The whitepaper examines the growing need for comprehensive cybersecurity solutions in the smart home industry and new device requirements that align with consumer attitudes and expectations toward data and privacy protection.

"Cybersecurity has been a common label for protecting the transmission of consumer data, but as devices evolve to offer more services and interconnected use cases, that narrow view of cybersecurity is inadequate to protect today's connected consumer," said Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Contributing Analyst, Parks Associates. "Home devices store data, need updates, and perform multiple functions. All of these new capabilities create additional vulnerabilities to cybersecurity attacks."

The whitepaper details important requirements for adapting device protections in this new environment. By adopting a security-by-design approach, product and service developers and manufacturers can protect consumers from risks resulting from increasing data flows between devices, the proliferation of wireless networks, and the growing amount of data stored on each device. Advanced privacy policies with opt-in provisions will also help build trust between the user and the device provider.

"We are at a confluence of social, political, and technical events that make increased cybersecurity timely and create advantages for companies that take a leadership role in this area," Wacks said. "Consumers are becoming increasingly aware that their personal data are under threat and can be misused. Building in privacy protection and security-by-design during product development is less costly for manufacturers than fixing problems after a breach. These breaches can also do significant damage to a brand."

Additional research from Cybersecurity Impact on Smart Home Market Growth:

• 63% of US broadband households are concerned about cybersecurity.
• More than 40% of US broadband households do not trust companies to keep their data safe.
• 54% of US broadband households do not feel they get much in return for sharing data.

To schedule an interview with an analyst or to request specific research data, please contact Sherrelle Lewis at [email protected], 972-996-0214.

About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.

The company's expertise includes digital media and platforms, entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, support services, consumer apps, advanced advertising, consumer electronics, energy management, and home control systems and security.

Each year, Parks Associates hosts industry webcasts, the CONNECTIONS™ Conference Series, Connected Health Summit: Engaging Consumers, and Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer. http://www.parksassociates.com

Media Contact:
Sherrelle Lewis
Parks Associates
972.996.0214
[email protected] 

SOURCE Parks Associates