As lighting becomes more connected and integral to building and city IT networks, it emerges as a new front in cybersecurity. Each smart bulb, sensor-laden streetlight, or networked control system is a potential entry point for malicious actors. A breach could lead to privacy violations (from sensors), widespread light outages, or even serve as a foothold to attack more critical network infrastructure. The industry is increasingly aware that security cannot be an afterthought. Manufacturers are now implementing robust measures like end-to-end encryption, secure boot processes, regular over-the-air security updates, and adherence to emerging IoT security standards. For specifiers and buyers, evaluating a product’s security credentials is becoming as important as assessing its luminous efficacy, turning cybersecurity into a core component of lighting quality and reliability.
The Cybersecurity Flashpoint: Securing the Connected Lighting Grid
