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. 

  • Prioritize Encryption and Secure Data Storage 

Encryption is critical to ensuring that data transmitted, shared, and stored by AV devices remains protected. It prevents anyone who may gain access to the data transmitted over your network from collecting insights about your company or customers. Leveraging AV devices and software systems with encryption built-in will help to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to data. 

Additionally, ensuring you have a system in place for securely storing data, and keeping it encrypted at rest, will further protect your business against potential breaches. Look for technology systems based on the AES algorithm for enterprise-grade defense.  

  • Create Comprehensive Security Policies and Train Teams 

Establishing, enforcing, and training teams on comprehensive security policies that include best-practice guidance on how to use AV systems securely is crucial to maintaining cybersecurity. Ensure your team members know how to configure devices securely, manage access control systems, and when to turn devices off to reduce network exposure.  

Regularly update your policies and training strategies to raise awareness of emerging threats and potential challenges your team members might face. Ensure you monitor your system for new risks, so you can adjust your policies accordingly. 

  • Keep Everything Up to Date 

Companies like Shure regularly release firmware and software updates that not only enhance the performance of your systems, but also ensure you can proactively identify emerging threats, and implement strategies to minimize potential security vulnerabilities and gaps.  

Making sure your solutions are up to date will ensure you have the best protections in place against known threats and emerging issues.  

Remember to look beyond your software and firmware too. Some audio processing solutions run on PCs instead of a dedicated audio device. This means your PCs and any other tools you might be using alongside your AV equipment also need to be regularly updated. 

Improving Audio Security with Shure 

Mastering true AV device security can be complex, but leading innovators in this industry do offer solutions that can streamline the path to better security. For instance, Shure’s Microflex Ecosystem of networked audio solutions allows companies to mix and match endpoints such as array microphones, wireless systems, audio DSPs and loudspeakers based on their specific AV needs.  

Security is a core component of this ecosystem, ensuring that the integration of components doesn’t lead to fragmentation in protection strategies. Shure subjects all software and hardware to a comprehensive verification process. All products are regularly tested for vulnerabilities and enhanced with new security measures.  

Alongside offering end-to-end encryption, device control, and network segmentation capabilities, Shure also offers companies access to a dedicated security team. This team can support the efforts of your organization with insights into industry developments and best practices. 

At a time when cyber threats are becoming increasingly advanced, working with a vendor like Shure to take a proactive approach to AV device security gives your company the best level of protection. Make sure you’re safeguarding your technology and your data in the modern workplace.  

For more security insights, head to: https://www.shure.com/en-GB/about-us/security 



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