{"id":14820,"date":"2016-11-15T23:52:36","date_gmt":"2016-11-16T04:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/simplisafe-home-security-solutions-in-a-digital-world\/"},"modified":"2016-11-15T23:52:36","modified_gmt":"2016-11-16T04:52:36","slug":"simplisafe-home-security-solutions-in-a-digital-world","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/simplisafe-home-security-solutions-in-a-digital-world\/","title":{"rendered":"SimpliSafe- Home Security Solutions in a Digital World"},"content":{"rendered":"

Home Security Market: Expanding Beyond Rich Homeowners in Safe Neighborhoods<\/strong><\/p>\n

For decades, big alarm monitoring companies such as ADT have dominated the home security market by offering huge upfront savings on professional alarm installation and then charging high fees as part of a multiyear contract for professional monitoring services.\u00a0 Due to the necessity of installing equipment, the high cost of monitoring, and the long-term contracts, wealthy homeowners historically represented the overwhelming majority of home security customers.\u00a0 Meanwhile, the alarm companies completely ignored young, lower income renters living in less safe neighborhoods.\u00a0 This inconsistency led to the 2006 founding of SimpliSafe, a company looking to capture the rental security system market with new technology and a new business model.<\/p>\n

SimpliSafe\u2019s founder, Chad Laurans, a 性视界 graduate, first decided to attack the home security market after burglars robbed several of his friend\u2019s apartments while they were in college [1].\u00a0 He looked at the $17.5bn in 2006 home security sales [2] and the fact that approximately 37% [3] of Americans rented their homes and saw an opportunity to apply new technology to a stodgy industry.<\/p>\n

A New Business Model Emerges <\/strong><\/p>\n

SimpliSafe\u2019s competitive advantage stems from the ease of installing a wireless system using adhesive tape and then easily transporting the system upon moving.\u00a0 Unlike traditional players, SimpliSafe charges full price upfront for equipment (starting at $230) that is easy to install and then charges more reasonable fees ($15\/month and no contract) for professional monthly monitoring [4].<\/p>\n

The equipment consists of a series of different types of sensors connected via a wireless network and a command center that links to professional monitoring services through a provided cellular link.\u00a0 The product resonates even more with its target audience by not requiring a landline, something many Millennials have never had as adults.\u00a0 Customers can easily add or subtract sensors to the system and the sensors have different functions, such as motion detection, glass breakage, and smoke detection.\u00a0 Upgrading to a higher monitoring service for $25\/month allows customers to remotely program the alarm using a cell phone.<\/p>\n

\"home-security-market\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 1<\/strong>. Market share for self-installed alarm systems, such as SimpliSafe\u2019s, is expected to grow significantly over the next 20 years [5]<\/p>\n

A Chink in the SimpliSafe Armor- Threats to the Internet of Things <\/strong><\/p>\n

Security researcher Andrew Zonenberg rocked SimpliSafe\u2019s world in February 2016 by publishing a blog post detailing how a person with a second SimpliSafe system, a microcontroller board, and rudimentary coding skills could bypass the SimpliSafe system [6].\u00a0 The equipment, purchased for $250, combined with C Language code, allowed him to capture the frequency used to disarm the alarm system and then parrot it back using his equipment (could be replicated with equipment valued at $50) [7].\u00a0 Unfortunately for SimpliSafe, multiple mainstream media sources picked up the story, delivering a strong reputational blow to the company.<\/p>\n

It turns out that SimpliSafe is not the only security system to succumb to this threat as ADT was also caught using unencrypted signals in its wireless offering [7].\u00a0 While the Internet of Things presents many enticing opportunities, it also makes all involved systems vulnerable to hacking attacks.<\/p>\n

\"simplisafe-hacked\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Figure 2<\/strong>. Equipment used by Andrew Zonenberg to hack SimpliSafe\u2019s alarm system [6]<\/p>\n

Fixing the System<\/strong><\/p>\n

SimpliSafe\u2019s response to this threat was weak at best.\u00a0 The company posted a blog article dismissing Zonenberg\u2019s findings as unrealistic and pointing out all the ways in which SimpliSafe is immune to traditional burglar\u2019s methods that were completely unrelated to Zonenberg\u2019s claims [8].\u00a0 This tone-deaf response didn\u2019t address SimpliSafe\u2019s fatal flaw- the company failed to design its hardware to receive routine firmware updates.\u00a0 Consequently, the company is unable to provide a software update and is virtually helpless to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

As companies continue to innovate in the digital transformation space, they must ensure that they can continually update their products with software patches.\u00a0 Companies like Tesla are already doing this, allowing existing owners to benefit from software updates [9].<\/p>\n

SimpliSafe should respond by sending each of its current subscribers a USB flash drive loaded with firmware to address the security threat.\u00a0 Like other Internet of Things providers, SimpliSafe should design future hardware to allow wireless software updates that can address new threats.\u00a0 While this post points to a specific issue at a small company, all Internet of Things companies will have to harden their defenses against bad actors.<\/p>\n

(720 words)<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

[1] New England Venture Capital Association, \u201cMeet the NEVYs Nominees: Entrepreneur of the Year, Tech, http:\/\/www.newenglandvc.org\/meet-the-nevys-nominees-entrepreneur-of-the-year-tech, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[2] IBIS World, \u201cSecurity Alarm Services Profile,\u201d http:\/\/clients1.ibisworld.com\/reports\/us\/ industry\/keystatistics.aspx?entid=1491, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[3] National Multifamily Housing Culture, \u201cQuick Facts: Residential Demographics,\u201d http:\/\/www.nmhc.org\/Content.aspx?id=4708, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[4] SimpliSafe, http:\/\/www.simplisafe.com, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[5] Bob Bryan, \u201cSilicon Valley Will Soon Become a Massive Player in Home Security,\u201d Business Insider<\/em>, http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/self-monitored-home-security-systems-market-share-2015-7, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[6] Rafi Letzter, \u201cThere\u2019s a Major Unfixable Flaw in a Security System Used in Over 200,000 Homes,\u201d Business Insider<\/em>, http:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/simplisafe-security-system-hack-2016-2, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[7] Thomas Fox-Brewster, \u201c300,000 American Homes Vulnerable to Hacks of \u2018Unfixable\u2019 SimpliSafe Alarm,\u201d Forbes<\/em>, http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/thomasbrewster\/2016\/02\/17\/ simplisafe-alarm-attacks\/#2495dde579a3, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[8] \u201cOur Commitment to Your Security,\u201d http:\/\/simplisafe.com\/forum\/customer-support-forum\/installing-and-using-simplisafe\/our-commitment-to-your-securi, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

[9] Tesla Software Updates, https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/support\/software-updates, accessed November 2016.<\/p>\n

Cover photo from www.simplisafe.com<\/p>\n

Note: The author gained much of the knowledge provided in this blog post as a former customer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The digital transformation gave rise to SimpliSafe, a startup in the home security space targeting renters. 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