Why AV Network Security Is Now an AV Integrator’s Responsibility

For most of the history of the AV industry, security was someone else’s job. Integrators focused on displays, DSPs, cameras, control systems, and the user experience inside the room. The network existed, but it was simply the pipe connecting everything together. If there were firewall rules or authentication policies, those belonged to the IT department. AV network security is now the integrator’s responsibility.

Today, the moment an AV device touches the network, it becomes part of the organization’s security posture. Cameras, touch panels, DSPs, encoders, decoders, control processors, and collaboration appliances are all endpoints. And to IT and cybersecurity teams, every endpoint represents a potential attack surface.

For AV integrators, that shift changes the job in a fundamental way. The question is no longer simply, “Does the room work?” The question is now also, “Does this system meet the organization’s security expectations?” If integrators cannot answer that question with confidence, someone else will.

AV Devices Are Now Network Infrastructure

The first step is recognizing how the role of AV equipment has evolved. Ten years ago, most AV systems lived largely on isolated networks. Control processors talked to displays. DSPs connected to microphones. Video distribution happened over proprietary links.

Today’s systems look very different.

AV over IP platforms, network-based control systems, collaboration appliances, digital signage players, and room scheduling systems all connect directly to enterprise networks. They often sit on the same infrastructure supporting corporate data, cloud services, and critical applications.

From the perspective of IT, an AV device is no different than any other network-connected system.

It has firmware and network ports. The system communicates with external services. Which means it can potentially be exploited.

This is why many IT teams now treat AV hardware the same way they treat IoT devices. Not because AV products are inherently insecure, but because they represent additional entry points into the network. They are network devices.

That mindset is becoming standard across enterprise environments.

The Rise of Security Frameworks

As organizations have become more security-conscious, many have adopted formal frameworks to guide how devices are deployed and managed. AV integrators increasingly encounter these frameworks during project planning and deployment.

One of the most common is the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, which provides guidance for identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from cybersecurity threats. For IT departments using NIST as a baseline, every device connected to the network must support policies that align with those principles.

Another widely adopted model is Zero Trust.

Zero Trust assumes that no device or user should automatically be trusted simply because they are inside the network. Instead, access must be verified continuously. This affects how AV devices authenticate, communicate, and receive updates.

Technologies such as 802.1X authentication are increasingly used to enforce this approach. With 802.1X, devices must authenticate with the network before they are granted access. For AV hardware, that means supporting certificate-based authentication or other identity mechanisms.

Even basic network practices such as segmentation using VLANs can have implications for system design. IT teams often isolate AV systems on their own network segments to limit potential exposure.

None of these requirements are unreasonable. But they do require integrators to understand how their systems interact with enterprise security policies.

Firmware Is Now Part of the Conversation

Security expectations also extend beyond initial deployment.

Enterprise IT teams increasingly ask questions such as:

• How often is firmware updated?
• How are vulnerabilities disclosed?
• What is the lifecycle support for this product?
• Can updates be deployed centrally?

These questions were once rare in AV conversations. Today they are common. Firmware management has become a critical piece of the security puzzle. Devices that cannot be updated or that require manual, on-site updates create operational challenges for IT teams responsible for maintaining hundreds or thousands of endpoints.

For integrators, this means product selection must consider not only features and performance but also security lifecycle support.

In many cases, manufacturers have already begun addressing these concerns. Secure boot processes, signed firmware updates, encrypted communication protocols, and vulnerability disclosure programs are becoming more common across professional AV products.

But those capabilities only matter if integrators understand them and can communicate them to customers.

Integrators Must Speak the Language of IT

One of the biggest challenges in this shift is not technical. It is cultural. Many AV professionals are extremely skilled in system design, signal flow, and user experience. But enterprise security conversations operate with a different vocabulary.

IT leaders talk about:

• Endpoint risk
• Authentication policies
• Certificate management
• Device lifecycle management
• Network segmentation
• Patch compliance

When integrators cannot engage in those conversations, they lose credibility with the teams responsible for the network. This is where the industry is beginning to see a divide.

Some integrators are investing heavily in IT literacy and cybersecurity awareness. They understand how AV systems interact with enterprise infrastructure and can collaborate effectively with security teams.

Others continue to treat the network as someone else’s problem. That approach is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

AV Network Security Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage

The AV industry often talks about evolving toward IT integration. Network security is one of the clearest examples of what that evolution actually means.

Integrators do not need to become cybersecurity experts. But they do need to understand the environment their systems operate in.

That includes:

• Knowing how AV devices authenticate to the network
• Understanding the role of segmentation and VLANs
• Evaluating firmware update processes
• Selecting manufacturers that prioritize security
• Communicating clearly with IT and security teams

Organizations are not asking AV companies to replace their cybersecurity departments. They are asking them to ensure that AV systems do not introduce unnecessary risk.

Integrators who can demonstrate that awareness gain something extremely valuable: trust. And in enterprise environments, trust often determines who gets the next project.

The Industry Is Crossing a Threshold

The AV industry is entering a period where technical excellence alone is no longer enough. Designing a great room experience still matters. Signal flow, acoustics, and usability remain core skills.

But systems now live inside complex enterprise networks governed by security policies, compliance requirements, and operational risk management. That reality changes the expectations placed on AV professionals.

Integrators who adapt by learning the fundamentals of network security will find themselves better aligned with modern IT organizations. Those who ignore the shift may increasingly find themselves on the outside of conversations that shape technology decisions.

In short, network security is no longer someone else’s responsibility.

If your system connects to the network, security is part of the job.

To learn more about AV network security, join me at the Almo E4 Experience this year. This topic is a major pillar of my keynote. I’m also teaching a dedicated hour long class on the subject. You can register for DC, Dallas, or Boston here.