The AV industry’s two main associations, InfoComm International and CEDIA, have teamed up to create a joint conference for Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2017 to discuss the issue of cybersecurity.  Integrators, consultants and clients should attend to learn how best to protect networked AV systems against growing threats.

On Friday 10 February, the two associations will tackle the issue head on by alerting attendees to the growing risks faced in both the commercial and residential sectors.  Recent digital assaults – including a high-profile distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack in the US that blighted internet services – have highlighted the perils introduced by network-connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) and the growing importance of cybersecurity.

“With AV systems now forming part of the IT network, AV integrators and manufacturers should understand the implications and embrace a security culture,” says Pamela Taggart, CTS, Senior Director of Development Europe, InfoComm International.

“Working together with CEDIA, we’ve come up with some critical learning objectives around networked AV security that will prove beneficial to attendees from both commercial and residential sectors.”

“As an industry, it is imperative that we implement higher standards across all sectors and develop a robust and proactive response to the dangers faced by disruptive cyberattacks,” adds Luke Amos, Senior Director of Education, CEDIA.

“Collaboration is key to improving cyber security, and CEDIA is proud to play its part in these efforts alongside InfoComm at this conference. Recent events have brought the potential vulnerabilities of IoT devices into sharp focus. Cyberattacks are a reality, and with customer trust a number one priority in all installs, we are excited to offer a platform for practical, actionable advice to be shared.”

The conference will be moderated by Mitch Klein, CEO of the Z-Wave Alliance. It will include a series of 30-minute sessions covering everything from how hackers might penetrate a customer’s network, to risk assessment and mitigation strategies, to incident response.  The session will end with a panel discussion that takes a larger view of the networked AV security issue, including shared experiences from both commercial and residential projects.

The joint conference is available through InfoComm’s All-Access Pass. With the All-Access Pass, ISE 2017 attendees can pay one price and take part in any of InfoComm’s educational Conferences, MasterClass programme or all-new Application Lab sessions during the show. For more information and to register, visit iseurope.org/infocomm-at-ise.

Cybersecurity:  How to Help Your Customers Understand, Mitigate, and Respond to Threats, a joint InfoComm/CEDA Conference, will take place Friday 10 February, from 10am to 1pm, in Room G106 of the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.