Smart Lock & IoT Security Flashcards
7 cards from real CPL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Smart Lock & IoT Security flashcards as text
A customer calls complaining that their smart lock's touchscreen keypad is unresponsive. After ruling out battery issues, what should the locksmith check next?
Answer: Check for moisture, dirt, or debris on the capacitive touchscreen surface
Capacitive touchscreens on smart locks can become unresponsive due to moisture, extreme cold, or debris on the surface, which is a common and easily resolved issue.
A smart lock's companion app shows 'lock tampered' alert. What does this notification typically indicate?
Answer: The lock's tamper sensor detected unexpected physical force or manipulation of the device
Tamper alerts are triggered by internal accelerometers or sensors that detect unauthorized physical manipulation, such as attempts to pry, drill, or forcibly remove the lock.
A property manager uses a smart lock platform to manage 50 rental units. One lock shows as 'offline' in the dashboard despite having fresh batteries. What should the locksmith investigate first?
Answer: The lock's hub, router, or bridge device serving that unit has lost power or connectivity
In a hub-based system, if the hub or gateway loses power or connectivity, all locks connected to that hub will appear offline regardless of their own battery or hardware status.
A customer reports their smart lock is draining batteries every two weeks instead of the expected 6–12 months. Which setting is most likely responsible?
Answer: The lock is performing too many auto-lock retries due to a misaligned bolt
A misaligned door or strike plate causes the motor to work harder or retry multiple times on each locking cycle, dramatically increasing power consumption.
When a smart lock's activity log shows multiple failed access attempts from an unrecognized credential at 3 AM, what is the recommended first response for the CPL advising the customer?
Answer: Change all access codes immediately and review who has credentials; consider enabling auto-lockout after failed attempts
Unusual access attempts at odd hours suggest a potential unauthorized access attempt; changing all codes, auditing credential holders, and enabling lockout features is the appropriate security response.
A commercial client asks about ANSI/BHMA Grade ratings in the context of smart locks for a high-traffic office entrance. Which grade should a CPL recommend for heavy commercial use?
Answer: Grade 1 (commercial heavy duty)
ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is the highest rating, designed for heavy commercial use, and can withstand the most cycles and physical stress — appropriate for a high-traffic office entrance.
A CPL is advising a small business owner who wants smart locks but is concerned about a single vendor going out of business and leaving their locks unsupported. What mitigation strategy should the locksmith recommend?
Answer: Choose locks using open standards (Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter) with local control capability to reduce cloud dependency
Open-standard locks with local processing capability can continue to function and be managed through alternative platforms even if the original vendor's cloud service shuts down.