A method comprising: obtaining, at a computing device (1350, 1450, 1550) seeking to verify credentials of a lighting system controller (1352, 1452, 1552), unverified credentials of the lighting system controller; transmitting, by the computing device to the lighting system controller via a first network communication channel, a request to verify the unverified credentials; transmitting, by the lighting system controller, credential-based data via a wired or wireless network; receiving, by another remote device, credential-based data via the wired or wireless network; receiving verification data at the computing device from the other remote device via a second network communication channel, wherein the second network communication channel is different than the first network communication channel; comparing, by the computing device, the unverified credentials to the verification data; verifying, by the computing device based on the comparing, that the unverified credentials are legitimate; based on the verifying, establishing, by the computing device, a lighting information communication channel between the computing device and the lighting system controller; and exchanging, by the computing device with the lighting system controller via the lighting information communication channel, data related to operation of one or more light sources of the lighting system or data from one or more sensors of the lighting system; wherein the request to verify the unverified credentials from the computing device further includes an identifier of the other remote device and wherein the other remote device is a luminaire or a smart light bulb and is one of the one or more light sources of the lighting system. obtaining, at a computing device (1350, 1450, 1550) seeking to verify credentials of a lighting system controller (1352, 1452, 1552), unverified credentials of the lighting system controller; transmitting, by the computing device to the lighting system controller via a first network communication channel, a request to verify the unverified credentials; transmitting, by the lighting system controller, credential-based data via a wired or wireless network; receiving, by another remote device, credential-based data via the wired or wireless network; receiving verification data at the computing device from the other remote device via a second network communication channel, wherein the second network communication channel is different than the first network communication channel; comparing, by the computing device, the unverified credentials to the verification data; verifying, by the computing device based on the comparing, that the unverified credentials are legitimate; based on the verifying, establishing, by the computing device, a lighting information communication channel between the computing device and the lighting system controller; and exchanging, by the computing device with the lighting system controller via the lighting information communication channel, data related to operation of one or more light sources of the lighting system or data from one or more sensors of the lighting system; wherein the request to verify the unverified credentials from the computing device further includes an identifier of the other remote device and wherein the other remote device is a luminaire or a smart light bulb and is one of the one or more light sources of the lighting system.