This standard specifies security services for the Versatile Home Network (VHN), as defined in CEA-851, "VHN Home Network Specification." It assumes an implementation of a VHN that conforms to CEA-851 in the following sense: The network must be digital and it must be IP-based; furthermore, it uses web tools, such as HTTP, for device control. (Note that, while the CEA-851 also defines a network architecture and requires a backbone topology based on IEEE 1394b, the security services specified in this standard are not based on any protocols below layer 3 of the ISO Standard Reference Model; thus, these requirements could be used for networks other than a VHN, so long as they are digital, IP-based, and use web tools for device control.)

This document specifies security services to defend against threats coming from the outside the home into to the home. Security issues stemming from threats originating on devices within the home, or directed from devices within the home to an outside network, will be addressed in a future issue of this standard.