Matter 101: The New Frontier of Smart Home Connectivity

Matter is a project started by a group within the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) to simplify the development of smart home devices for manufacturers and increase the compatibility of these products with each other for the benefit of consumers. At the forefront of this collective is the desire for secure, dependable and user-friendly smart technology.

With 28 smart home industry leaders at the helm as collective members who have pledged to build upon the agreed Internet Protocol (IP) when developing new products, many big-name brands are promoting the Matter standards. For example, Apple, Amazon, Google, Samsung and Ikea are just a few well-known platform owners and manufacturers behind the movement. Additionally, there are over 250 technology companies that are committed participants and over 200 more that have been designated as adopters.

The CSA that collaborated on Matter originally formed in 2019 and announced a planned release date of late 2020. There have been several delays due to further attention needed on the software that all smart device manufacturers will use for their products to meet Matter standards.¹ 

As the use of smart devices has grown, so have concerns over personal security. The worry that cybercriminals can hack into smart speakers is a barrier for some people installing them in the first place. These fears are not without cause; proof of smart device vulnerability was exposed in a 2019 study by researchers at North Carolina State University. A review of 24 smart home gadgets revealed flaws in security for all but two by launching fake cyberattacks.See Disclosure ²

If a hacker gains access to any smart electronic connected to your Wi-Fi network, not only is your personal data exposed (which can lead to a number of unfortunate outcomes), but things like smart door locks can be disconnected from the internet, providing entrance into a home.See Disclosure ³ Plus, even from another location, someone could give commands to your home assistant to shut off Wi-Fi thermostats or water leak sensors, causing major damage to your property.

With the Matter smart home standard, all transmitted data would be encrypted, which isn’t currently the case when sharing virtual communications between smart devices. Furthermore, as part of the Matter home automation collaboration, all devices must register for certification before gaining access to other Matter smart home devices.

Another way to operate smart systems is through your smartphone using third-party applications. Until recently, there hasn’t been a regulatory board to govern what level of data security apps require before connecting with smart devices. Soon, apps for smart homes with Matter guidelines will have to be authenticated before integration. This heightened standard will give much-needed peace of mind to consumers that their personal data and privacy is protected.

You might be wondering, “Will Matter smart home devices be compatible with my current smart hub?” The good news is that because of their established partnerships, Matter will work with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Samsung’s SmartThings. Therefore, whatever smart devices you already use or plan to use with those systems will continue to work under the new Matter standards. What’s more, with Matter’s Multi-Admin control feature, you can use more than one platform if so desired. This means that as a consumer, your options for smart products will expand significantly.

For instance, instead of shopping for smart thermostats that only work with Apple HomeKit, you can choose any brand and model as long as it meets the protocol set by the CSA. Likewise, a Google smart display will be able to work with an Amazon smart speaker and so on. You could even use multiple platforms to manage Matter accessories and devices at the same time.

At this point, smart products included in the first iteration of Matter’s development are light bulbs, plugs and outlets, TVs and streaming media players, door locks, garage door openers, Wireless Access Points and network switches. However, some products that have yet to be brought into the fold are security cameras and home security systems, which are planned for the second stage of development. The reason for the delay is that the companies needed to form a partnership on the Matter standards for those items are presently occupied on bringing the first set of products into realization.

If you’ve already set up a smart home, you likely have all the devices you need to be ready for Matter’s arrival. Although, if you can’t wait to purchase a certain item, be sure to look at ones built with the Thread IP. Thread is a mesh network technology designed to improve the security and compatibility of the Internet of Things (IoT) and also supports the Matter initiative.

Or maybe you’re new to smart home integration and still learning about the concept and terminology. In that case, you’ll probably want to learn about the IoT to gain a better understanding. Then, check out this room-by-room guide to home automation as a good starting point for your smart home automation journey.