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.

A return to in-person work in one form or another is imminent. Whether organizations bring back their entire staff, schedule a staggered presence, or plan to congregate on demand, the pandemic work life that everyone has grown accustomed to will be changing for the majority of businesses and staff. Even if these changes don’t have an impact on roles and responsibilities, they will likely have an effect on company dynamics, team engagement, work hours, and scheduling flexibility. For some, it may be as easy as a welcomed return to a comfortable routine. For others it can be uprooting a new way of life that they have grown accustomed to living and truly value.