Smart home integration connects cameras, locks, lights, thermostats and sensors so they respond to one another and to a single app. It depends on a hub or platform, on compatible protocols such as Z-Wave, Zigbee or Wi-Fi, and on a network that separates devices from personal computers.
Integration is where a smart home becomes either useful or a collection of apps. The limiting factor is rarely the devices; it is which platform controls them and how reliably they stay connected.
Protocols and hubs
Z-Wave and Zigbee build low-power mesh networks through a hub, while Wi-Fi devices connect directly to the access point. Mixing protocols is normal, and the hub has to support everything chosen.
Security and privacy
Give each device its own credentials, keep firmware current and hold guests and devices on separate network segments. Account-level control of cameras and locks deserves multi-factor login.