Two years after releasings its Wi-Fi-extending home mesh system in 2015, Luma is offering a low-cost networking monitoring and support service for $5 a month called Luma Guardian.

“I can protect your privacy, clean up viruses, check on your ISP speeds, answer any tech questions and more,” reads the Luma Guardian webpage, which also offers a 30-day free trial. 

The service is essentially a VPN service, antivirus (through Webroot), Internet speed monitor and tech support line in one — something Luma CEO Paul Judge says is part of a natural progression for the company. After baking IoT security into its system, Luma saw many security problems throughout clients homes, reports TechCrunch.

“We’d been blocking them, and the next step was, how do we go to their devices and clean them up?” says Judge. “How do we install antivirus and clean up the infections on those devices? For 15 years, we built networking and security equipment for companies. You can have the best equipment in the world, but at the end of the day, they had a team to manage it all. Having someone there who pays attention is key.”

It's safe to say Luma expects the concierge service — what Luma calls an “IT team for the house” — to appeal to older users. Luma has signed the 78-year-old one-time Dos Equis pitchman, “Most Interesting Man in the World,” Jonathan Goldsmith to rep the service.

“Luma doesn't just move your Wi-Fi around the house so that everyone in the family can share, it also keeps your family from sharing your private d*mn personal information with creepy people,” recites Goldsmith.

But besides those who might benefit from a Wi-Fi tech support line, consumers may also be interested in a network monitoring service in order to keep an eye on Internet speed. Luma customers will receive a report showing their average daily Internet speed, giving them fodder to go back to the cable company or phone company with their concerns if the promised speed is not met. 

Integrators, take note.

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