As more everyday items like toasters, TVs and thermostats become connected to the internet, the rules for keeping those devices secure must be able to evolve as quickly as the technology itself, experts said Tuesday.

Congress and government regulators have spent years debating the best strategies for securing the billions of network-connected devices that permeate virtually every corner of the physical world. Last month, the National Institute of Standards and Technology published guidelines managing security on the internet of things, and lawmakers have introduced multiple bills over the past year meant to secure connected devices purchased by federal agencies.

While today most people agree the tech should follow a set of minimum security standards, experts fear regulations that are “overly prescriptive” could hinder security rather than help. 

“It’s hard to tell manufacturers a discrete set of things you should do till the end of time for all devices, because [that guidance] is based on today,” Michael Fagan, a cyber specialist at NIST, said on a panel hosted by the Telecommunications Industry Association. “We don’t know where devices will go in the future.” Read on: