An apparatus and method for joining an Internet of Things (IoT) network are provided, the apparatus including a communicator configured to receive, from an electronic device, an encrypted auto-onboard configuration data associated with the IoT network, a sensor configured to detect a user command, and at least one processor configured to generate a decryption key based on features extracted from the user command, decrypt the encrypted auto-onboard configuration data using the decryption key, and join the IoT network.