Safeguarding the modern workplace isn’t easy. Threats and compliance regulations are constantly evolving alongside the working environment. In every context, from educational institutions to financial corporations, teams are leveraging technology more regularly to share sensitive information, collaborate, and innovate.
Keeping these employees, your business, and crucial data secure requires an investment in more than just software for tracking malware and cyberthreats. You also need to consider the security controls for your audiovisual (AV) landscape.
Every networked device in your ecosystem, from projectors and microphones to video conferencing systems, can expose your company to new threats. Here’s how you can approach AV security effectively in the modern workplace to boost compliance, minimize threats, and improve efficiency.
The Value of a Strong AV Security Strategy
Whether you’re investing in AV equipment for meeting rooms, or to support individual workers in the hybrid landscape, security should be a primary consideration. Although robust security protocols for standard IT infrastructure are generally commonplace, companies can often struggle to extend these measures to their AV devices and systems.
Although AV technologies likely operate on the same networks as essential IT assets, audio leader Shure found that up to 82% of organizations struggle to identify and secure network-connected devices.
Without a holistic approach, you could be exposing yourself to data leaks, criminal breaches, and countless other threats. Implementing a robust AV device security strategy helps to ensure all of your meetings, conversations, and data remain private.
The result for organizations is:
- Greater network integrity: Devices connected to your organization’s network can act as an entry point for criminals and cyber-attacks. A secure AV setup enhances network integrity, reducing risks, and minimizing the chances of unnecessary disruptions.
- Operational continuity: In virtually every business, AV devices from microphones to cameras are critical to day-to-day operations. Ensuring they’re secured reduces the risk of inefficiencies and expensive downtime.
- Enhanced data protection: AV equipment processes sensitive information, just like a laptop. It streams confidential audio and video content, related to everything from intellectual property to customer information. Security measures are crucial to protect that data.
How to Optimize AV Device Security
Mastering AV security relies on a comprehensive approach to implementing device security features, audio networking strategies, and robust encryption and authentication methods. To ensure your company and data are protected, invest in the following strategies:
- Network Segmentation and Service Control
Network segmentation is an excellent solution for enhancing AV device security. It gives companies an opportunity to isolate AV equipment on a separate network to the one used for critical IT processes. This means that even if criminals gain access to one segment of your network, they won’t be able to easily access other data and resources. Plus, network segmentation can make it easier to monitor AV devices for suspicious activities and issues.
Similarly, service control features give companies a comprehensive way to manage their audio network and devices. For instance, you can configure devices to meet the specific performance and security requirements of your organization with Shure’s Microflex Ecosystem. It allows you to enable only the services that are required for a particular solution or application.
- Implement Strong Authentication Methods
Powerful authentication strategies should be standard in any organization using AV equipment. Enabling and using strong, complex passphrases for AV devices ensures only authorized personnel can access technologies with access to your network.
Solutions like Shure’s Microflex Ecosystem leverage 802.1x network authentication protocols to prevent devices from accessing networks without providing proof of identity and authorization.
Companies can benefit from package signing and verification systems, secure boot capabilities to verify the validity of software and system firmware.
