How important is your home network? Short of losing power, it's the first thing your kids will notice. Of course, they may not notice the power outage as long as their smartphone batteries keep going!

This past year, everyone gained a new appreciation of how important their network connectivity is. It was the essential lifeline to the world, connecting us to work, school, shopping, family, distantly socializing, and entertainment.

Most everyone has some kind of smart device these days, even if they're not technically into home automation. For example, devices like Nest thermostats are hugely popular, and some people love them in their homes purely for their design! Similarly, smart speakers from Sonos, Amazon, and Google are also popular for various entertainment and automation functions.