Create a dedicated network for IoT devices.
Create a dedicated network for IoT devices.
The issue here is clear—when you focus IoT devices solely on security, isolating them can create a false sense of protection. I've noticed some users setting up their devices in separate VLANs and using routers to break that isolation, enabling direct access between networks. This undermines the intended security because it reintroduces the same vulnerabilities they aimed to avoid. It also adds unnecessary complexity to your network setup without real benefits. My own IoT environment stays completely separate; I only interact with devices via the cloud, which is the only reliable method to keep them protected from internal threats.
IoT operates on its own dedicated VLAN, completely isolated from your private networks. Access to the IoT segment comes only from private subnets, while the reverse isn’t possible; no IoT traffic can reach those areas. I placed my home assistant inside the IoT subnet because that’s the most reliable setup. I’m not overly concerned about a smart switch compromising hardware availability—its attack surface is limited, and even if breached, control would be restricted to local devices. I have some exceptions for HA communication with private subnets, but those are isolated to specific systems only. Plex servers reside in my home lab subnet, and NVIDIA Shield is an IoT device on the same network. Overall, it remains secure yet fully functional under local-only constraints.