KNX Secure - Do I really need it?

In our everyday lives, we are constantly bombarded by scam artists and highly organised criminal syndicates attempting to break into systems, company networks, and home networks to breach data. They seek to sell this data, find ways to attack systems, and exploit personal vulnerabilities to obtain passwords and information. They put considerable effort into these attempts because your most valuable possessions are worth it. 

Our biggest advantages often become our biggest weaknesses. In other words, our ease of doing things online through the internet has become our biggest risk. 

Automation systems are inevitably linked to IP networks and the internet, controlled through things like voice commands, mobile devices, and computers. And let’s face it, who wouldn’t want complete control and monitoring of a building, whether inside or from anywhere in the world? Whether we want to admit it or not, automation systems present vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit to gain entry into networks.  

So what can we do? Well, in automation systems, not much has been developed in terms of security as part of their standards, except for KNX!  

KNX is great in terms of: 

• Multiple manufacturers (over 500), offering a wide range of products and choices (more than 8000). 
• Standardised open protocol (ISO/IES, Euro, Chinese, and many others) with a manufacturer-independent organisation. 
• Covering all building functional areas – lighting, blinds, HVAC, AV, metering, etc., and conveniently bringing them all together on one network. 
• One programming software ETS. 
• Future-proof and flexible. 
• Ongoing development. 

But in the current online environment, I believe the last point, “ongoing development,” is the most important. KNX realised the conundrum we would be in now and started development back in 2013. 

• KNX Data Secure became an EN standard (EN 50090-3-4) in 2018. 
• KNX IP Secure became an ISO standard (ISO 22510) in 2019. 

In a quick explanation: 

• KNX Data Secure – encrypts KNX traffic from secure devices to other secure devices on that communication medium (twisted pair, radio frequency, internet protocol). 
• KNX IP Secure – encrypts KNX traffic over IP networks from secure devices to other secure devices.  

Both of these in combination can provide, apart from single, dual layer protection. 

Several big government and non-government projects have been fitted with KNX due to the ability and features of KNX Secure. It’s just that important; it’s now a must. I don’t see why a home or any other building should be any different. 

Nowadays, projects can be realised with both IP and Data Secure. At the time of writing this article, there are 500 certified KNX products, and this number is growing daily, with the majority of all KNX IP devices now sold with this IP secure capability. 

KNX Secure – do you really need it? The answer is a big, resounding YES. You need everything you can to protect yourself! And if you use KNX, it’s one less thing to worry about.  

See us at Ivory Egg if you want to know how you can secure your system. 

Want more information?

https://www.knx.org/knx-en/for-professionals/benefits/knx-secure/