Your Client's Home Is Connected. Is Their Coverage?

The average American home now has 22 connected devices. Smart locks. Security cameras. Thermostats. Voice assistants. Baby monitors. Smart TVs. Every one of those devices is a potential entry point. And standard homeowners policies were written before any of them existed.

The Smart Home Coverage Gap

HO policies protect the structure, the contents, and personal liability. But the risks that come with a connected home look very different from what HO was designed to cover.

HO IS built for: fire, wind, and water damage to the structure; theft and loss of personal property; personal liability for physical harm to guests.

HO is NOT built for: a hacker accessing the home network through a compromised smart device; identity theft triggered by a home network breach; financial fraud enabled by remote access to digital accounts; smart device hijacking — cameras, locks, thermostats used by an intruder.

These aren't hypothetical risks. As connected device adoption grows, so does the attack surface. And the clients most exposed are often the same clients who feel the most covered: homeowners with newer, "smart" homes.

Real Scenarios That Fall Through the Gap

A cybercriminal gains access to a home network through a smart thermostat. They use that access to drain financial accounts. The HO covers the structure. It doesn't cover the financial fraud. A compromised smart lock provides physical access to a home. The cameras — also on the same network — are wiped remotely before police arrive. HO covers the physical damage. It doesn't address the compromised entry point.

What Personal Cyber Coverage Does

Personal cyber coverage fills the gaps a standard HO doesn't address: cyber extortion/ransomware on personal devices; identity theft monitoring and recovery; financial fraud reimbursement tied to digital access; smart home cyber liability; online fraud and social engineering protection. In many cases it can be added as an endorsement to an existing HO policy — making it one of the most cost-effective conversations in personal lines today.

Questions Worth Asking

When reviewing a personal lines account: How many connected devices are in the home? Does the client access financial accounts from a home network? Do they work from home — even occasionally? Do they have smart locks, cameras, or home automation systems?

If yes to any — the personal cyber conversation is worth having. It's affordable, it fills a real gap, and in 2026 it's quickly becoming a standard part of the personal lines review. The home got smarter. Let's make sure the coverage did too.