With digital transformation occurring at breakneck speed, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for first-world IT environments. The shift towards IT-first technology has brought about new challenges in protecting sensitive data and ensuring enterprise security. The stakes are high, with reports of data breaches becoming a daily occurrence, impacting organizations across various sectors. In this episode of Signal Flow by AVIXA, host Ben Thomas engages in a thought-provoking conversation with guest Christopher Burgess, ex-CIA Chief, consultant, and security industry writer, to explore the nuances of cybersecurity in an IT-first world.

The conversation delves into:

The importance of staying engaged and informed to stay on top of cybersecurity threats.

The role of manufacturers and the need for continuous updates and vigilance in the face of evolving threats.

The human element in cybersecurity, highlighting the significance of education and awareness in mitigating risks.

Christopher Burgess brings a wealth of experience from his 30-year tenure at the CIA, where he held various roles, including Chief of Station. With a background that spans IT, computers, science, technology, and operations, Burgess offers an expert’s take on the nuances of cybersecurity in an IT-first world. He has since transitioned to consulting and writing, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience.

In this episode of Signal Flow by AVIXA, host Ben Thomas delves into how network connectivity has revolutionized the use of streaming technology, signal distribution, and audio-video systems in houses of worship. He is joined by Mark Hanna, a National Accounts Manager at Sony Faith to explore this transformation. Hanna shares his journey to Sony, emphasizing the role of networking in his career advancement.

They discuss the evolving role of network connectivity in houses of worship, highlighting the shift from legacy systems like SDI cables to modern protocols like NDI. Hanna observes the increasing necessity for tech directors in churches to possess network administration skills due to the integration of IT and audiovisual technologies.

The two also examine the collaboration between tech directors and IT teams in churches, noting a trend where IT professionals are increasingly taking over tech departments. This shift is driven by the growing need for expertise in network security and IT infrastructure in managing audio, video, and lighting systems.

Finally, they address the challenge of balancing innovative network-based workflows with traditional SD and fiber methods in churches. Hanna points out the importance of understanding both to effectively implement technology in houses of worship.

In this episode of Signal Flow by AVIXA, host Ben Thomas delves into how network connectivity has revolutionized the use of streaming technology, signal distribution, and audio-video systems in houses of worship. He is joined by Mark Hanna, a National Accounts Manager at Sony Faith to explore this transformation. Hanna shares his journey to Sony, emphasizing the role of networking in his career advancement.

They discuss the evolving role of network connectivity in houses of worship, highlighting the shift from legacy systems like SDI cables to modern protocols like NDI. Hanna observes the increasing necessity for tech directors in churches to possess network administration skills due to the integration of IT and audiovisual technologies.

The two also examine the collaboration between tech directors and IT teams in churches, noting a trend where IT professionals are increasingly taking over tech departments. This shift is driven by the growing need for expertise in network security and IT infrastructure in managing audio, video, and lighting systems.

Finally, they address the challenge of balancing innovative network-based workflows with traditional SD and fiber methods in churches. Hanna points out the importance of understanding both to effectively implement technology in houses of worship.

On this episode of Signal Flow, we delve into the differences between mission-critical and commercial installations, focusing on the crucial considerations from an IT and infrastructure standpoint. Joining the show is Wayne Dorris, a cybersecurity expert from Axis Communications, who navigates listeners through the complexities of these two installation types.

For products used in mission-critical environments, manufacturers must undergo a rigorous vetting process. Mission-critical operators require comprehensive information on product compliance and hardening guidelines to ensure the highest security baseline. Cybersecurity baselines are more demanding for mission-critical environments compared to commercial setups. The products used must undergo extensive testing to guarantee their compatibility with critical systems.

Dorris highlights some common vulnerabilities observed in mission-critical installations. The three root causes of breaches, as revealed in a survey, include human error (50%), misconfiguration of devices (44%), and poor maintenance and patching (43%). The exploitation of vulnerabilities is a significant theme, which highlights the need for rigorous security measures.

Human error accounts for a staggering 50% of breaches, making it vital to empower operators with the knowledge to avoid falling victim to phishing attempts and other social engineering techniques. Training operators to identify and report suspicious activities, as well as ensuring seamless integration of logs into security operations centers, is crucial in preventing breaches.

In conclusion, understanding the differences between mission-critical and commercial installations from a cybersecurity perspective is crucial in ensuring the security and reliability of AV technology. Manufacturers should provide comprehensive product hardening guides, while IT managers must prioritize security in their product selection. Empowering operators with cybersecurity knowledge and ongoing education will play a vital role in mitigating human error and ensuring robust cybersecurity practices across the industry. Stay informed and continue to learn as the AV technology landscape and cybersecurity threats continue to evolve.

To stay updated on AV technology and cybersecurity discussions, subscribe to Signal Flow on AVIXA TV and your favorite podcast platforms.

Think of IP protocols as synonymous with languages—they are the rules that control

communication between sent and received data via the internet. The language, or protocol, must

be the same to allow the user of the device to receive data from a website or another device.

TCP/IP, SMTP, PPP, FTP, SFTP, HTTP, and HTTPS are just some of the various protocols

available.

What are the differences in these IP protocols and how do these differences impact purchasing of

IP standards and uses?

On today’s episode of Signal Flow presented by AVIXA, Host Ben Thomas is joined by Alberto

Cieri, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing at Matrox, to discuss what various IP protocols look like

and best practices for the industry.

Thomas and Cieri also discussed…

1. Core differences between IP standards and the benefits of open standards

2. What gear purchasing means for the buyer, installer, and user in what standard they use

3. Security concerns that need to be faced and preventative installation

Cieri elaborated upon the benefits of using open IP delivery standards. “Ultimately, that’s the

beauty of open standards. And that’s where something like IPMX is going and it’s really

designing itself to be the most widest receiver out there. Because there’s going to be a lot of

manufacturers that are going to be building products that will allow to bridge one IP network to

another.”

Alberto Cieri is Senior VP, Sales and Marketing at Matrox. Prior to his current role, he served in

numerous positions at Matrox, including Sales Engineer, Sales Manager, and Senior Director of

Sales and Marketing. Ciera attended Concordia University, where he earned his bachelor’s

degree in electrical engineering, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Think of IP protocols as synonymous with languages—they are the rules that control

communication between sent and received data via the internet. The language, or protocol, must

be the same to allow the user of the device to receive data from a website or another device.

TCP/IP, SMTP, PPP, FTP, SFTP, HTTP, and HTTPS are just some of the various protocols

available.

What are the differences in these IP protocols and how do these differences impact purchasing of

IP standards and uses?

On today’s episode of Signal Flow presented by AVIXA, Host Ben Thomas is joined by Alberto

Cieri, Senior VP, Sales and Marketing at Matrox, to discuss what various IP protocols look like

and best practices for the industry.

Thomas and Cieri also discussed…

1. Core differences between IP standards and the benefits of open standards

2. What gear purchasing means for the buyer, installer, and user in what standard they use

3. Security concerns that need to be faced and preventative installation

Cieri elaborated upon the benefits of using open IP delivery standards. “Ultimately, that’s the

beauty of open standards. And that’s where something like IPMX is going and it’s really

designing itself to be the most widest receiver out there. Because there’s going to be a lot of

manufacturers that are going to be building products that will allow to bridge one IP network to

another.”

Alberto Cieri is Senior VP, Sales and Marketing at Matrox. Prior to his current role, he served in

numerous positions at Matrox, including Sales Engineer, Sales Manager, and Senior Director of

Sales and Marketing. Ciera attended Concordia University, where he earned his bachelor’s

degree in electrical engineering, Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

XtremeHD IPTV, Necro IPTV, 6IPTV, Krooz TV…these are just some of the more popular

IPTV platforms available for use today. That list of names is sure to continue growing as

consumers continue to recognize the benefits of transmitting TV programs and videos through

the Internet, such as easy smart home integration, video call support, and online conferencing

and gaming.

How are companies like VidOvation tackling the increasing popularity of enterprise IPTV

installations and bridging the gap between broadcasting and proAV services?

On today’s episode of Signal Flow presented by Avixa, host Ben Thomas is joined by Jim

Jachetta, EVP & CTO at VidOvation, to discuss what VidOvation does in the IPTV installation

space to facilitate effective mass streaming services for enterprises.

Thomas and Jachetta also discussed…

1. What IPTV is and the challenges it will help enterprises overcome

2. The difference between unicast and multicast and how multicast improves streaming

efficiency

3. Digital rights management (DRM) implications inside of IPTV systems

Jachetta described how VidOvation creates fluidity between broadcasting and proAV. “We will

bridge the IPTV system to the master control router. Master control router is a big routing

switcher in every television station. They’ve got hundreds of thousands of feeds coming in,

they’ve got a multi-viewer in the front of the room. What show do we need to re-transmit or we

need to air the feed from London to New York now? Or the feed from London is going to go live

on the news now. Or the tennis channel—a lot of the tournaments in Europe happen, you know,

three o’clock, two o’clock in the morning. So, they’ve got to bring them in, delay them, record

them, re-broadcast them and marrying that work flow into the IPTV workflow is part of what we

do…we can bridge our video on demand or our video playback infrastructure into the television

infrastructure and vice versa.”

Jim Jachetta has been EVP & CTO of VidOvation since 2010. Jachetta began his career as a

Project Engineer at Micra Corporation and then served as Senior VP of Sales, Marketing,

Operations, and Principal at MultiDyne Video & Fiber Optic Systems prior to his current role at

VidOvation. Jachetta earned a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from New York University.

He also holds two patents for systems for communication of video signals and has eight

conference, corporation, and association publications in the IPTV industry