Cybersecurity is a hot topic of conversation in the world at large and the AV industry is no exception. As AV has become a specialized area of IT, it is critical that security best practices are implemented in integrated systems and devices.

For many years, the AV industry has relied on RS-232 communications to integrate complex devices that supported a robust API (Application Program Interface aka control protocol). While this method was effective and required adherence to basic security measures, its exposure was limited by the requirement of a point-to-point connection within 50 ft with a custom communication cable.

With AV device communication migrating to the ethernet network comes the flexibility and standardization of connections along with convenience and vulnerability of being accessible. Devices on an ethernet network tend to be reachable for communication by many other devices on the network and thus provide an easy target for security breaches. As a result, many AV manufacturers who are developing products intending to communicate on a local or wide area ethernet network, including The Cloud, are implementing intense security measures to ensure their devices are IT approved and don’t become a weak link in the integrated system security chain.

More often than not, the go-to solution for a system that is not satisfying users’ needs is to purchase new equipment and start over with a new installation. Whether or not perception is reality, it is commonly thought that operational defects are tied to the brand of equipment being used and that by simply replacing the equipment is the best course of action to remedy the problem. The truth is that an improperly designed, installed, programmed, or configured system will not work no matter what equipment is used. There are circumstances when a device may not fit the need, doesn’t offer the desired functionality, or is beyond its lifespan; however, in many circumstances, the custom programming or system configuration is the key variable in the overall success of the system, as fittingly stated in an old proverb, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”