Only someone else's computer...The meme popularised on geeks t-shirts everywhere in the early 2000's has never been truer or more important than today in modern smart homes.
Tech news websites are regularly littered with articles about manufacturer's of smart devices abusing the trust of their consumers.
Things like -
- Purposely disabling integration via their cloud (Chamerlain's MyQ Garage Door controllers)
- Closing and shutting down cloud servers rendering devices useless (Belkin Wemo Plugs)
- Suddenly introducing new subscription models to retain the same functionality (Wink Smart Home)
- Employees watching private in home camera footage (Amazon Ring)
- Having to defend allegations of providing user information to government agencies (Amazon Ring Again)
- The constant user data harvesting being sold to advertisers (Amazon, Google, almost all cloud platforms)
Suddenly, the geek warning "There is no cloud, only someone else's computer" applies not just to the files and photos you keep in the cloud, but to how you control your home, who else can access that information, and if the products you purchased will stay working.
The only solution is a "local only" approach to automation, surveillance & security
This means that all your systems - lighting, blinds, air-conditioning, cameras, door controllers, must all work perfectly with your automation if the home has no internet access.
This model ensures that no data is leaving the home and living in the "cloud" (just a computer amazon owns).
It also guarantees that everything will continue to work the way you paid for it to!
Knowing what products will or won't meet this requirement isn't always easy or straight-forward, but if your paying a professional to implement your systems, always ask them if their solution relies on any cloud services.