Modern routers now allow you to set up a guest network, an entirely separate Wi-Fi network to keep your main network secure. Instead of disclosing the password to your main Wi-Fi network, which all your devices and computers regularly connect to, you can allow access through the guest version, a network entirely parallel to your standard network. It segments your regular network even though, technically, each wireless device is connected to the same router and through the same gateway. It’s also a smart way to keep potentially compromised devices out of your main channel. If a friend visits and connects to a malware-compromised laptop, that laptop effectively has no access to your main network. This practice is called network segmentation. In fact, before you upgrade or buy a new router, this is a security feature you should definitely check out first. If it does not support guest network coverage, use another router.
Another benefit of having a guest network is that you can limit the bandwidth so that it doesn’t slow down or impact your main network. This makes the guest network a major contender for a separate IoT Wi-Fi channel, especially if you’re not going to use it conventionally. Instead, you can use the guest network as a dedicated channel for IoT and smart home devices. This works well because most smart home devices are only compatible with 2.4 GHz networks and many routers only allow you to create a guest network on the 2.4 GHz band.
Why use your guest network as an isolated IoT channel?
IoT and smart home devices pose a serious risk to all user networks and access points, and it’s not really something you can escape. They require frequent firmware updates and security patches and may not receive them in a timely manner. They also often employ strong authentication measures, facilitated by an access point or remote server, meaning they are always online. Even with end-to-end encryption and strong security measures, they sometimes have glaring vulnerabilities, such as a default administrative username and password combination that is never changed or simply cannot be changed.
If even one device is compromised as part of a botnet, attackers can gain access to the rest of the network, moving laterally to more sensitive hardware. An alarming 14,000 devices were hacked in an unprecedented cyberattack, called KidNap, which targeted routers and edge devices. Keeping IoT and smart home devices on a separate guest network ensures data isolation because a compromised IoT device cannot interact with more valuable systems on the network, like your phone or laptop. This is especially beneficial with inexpensive or unsupported IoT devices that don’t receive regular updates. They may contain weaknesses or vulnerabilities that are never patched, or patched too late, and which hackers take full advantage of.
There are pros and cons to using a guest network for IoT
You can use your guest network just for smart home gadgets, but it has pros and cons. The benefits are better security through network segmentation, improved performance with appropriate bandwidth limits, and simplified device management. It’s easier to organize and monitor your devices if they’re on a single network.
However, the downsides include limited device connectivity, as devices connected to your main network cannot communicate with the guest network. A hub may need access to your smart lights, but if the lights are on a guest network and the hub is not, it won’t work. Segmentation devices can also add additional steps to the configuration process. Smart home technology often syncs through a mobile app, and your phone must be on the same network as the new device. On your phone, you will need to disconnect from your primary Wi-Fi network, connect to the guest network, install your new smart home device, then disconnect after installation and reconnect to your primary network. It’s not a big deal, but it’s still an extra step.
Some budget routers experience performance issues when managing two separate networks, leading to latency spikes. You will need to do additional research when choosing a router. Explore user reviews and comments. Look for people who have set up a guest network on their router. Whether you’re considering cheap routers on Amazon that users swear by for the most reliable mesh Wi-Fi routers, user reviews can help you choose a reliable upgrade for your home network.