FEATURE: CONFERENCE VENUES
we do not go wireless so far with Xavtel is the security issue,” says Cunsolo. “I totally understand that sometimes people like to have a wireless system, but so far I believe that a real secure ‘encryption’ is not yet there. Having a closed network on a wire with a proprietary protocol still seems the most secure approach.” Many others, however,
would contend such claims about wireless. “The belief that wired is more secure than wireless systems is no longer applicable as there are a number of secure wireless systems available,” says Stuart Stephens, systems project engineer, Shure Distribution. By way of example, he points to Shure’s own ULX-D, Microflex Wireless and recently launched QLX-D systems, which “all offer AES-256 encryption for applications where security is paramount”.
3. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW ABOUT ENCRYPTION. Whatever your view, the number of IP and wireless- based solutions will surely continue to rise, heightening the need to grapple with security issues. “Moving to IP-based conference systems [means that] the general requirements for
security grow and proven encryption technology is required. This also applies to wireless-based conference systems,” says Den Heuvel. So far, so clear… However, opinions on the effectiveness of encryption techniques for wireless systems are subject to considerable variation. Brähler is the manufacturer of the Digimic wireless system which employs a proprietary narrowband WiFi protocol, known as APRON, to minimise the risk of interference, as well as a host of innovative encryption methods. “There are a lot of systems out there using variations on standard AES encryption, which is the same as what you use for going onto a wireless network with your iPad,” says Simon Sainsbury, who is managing director of Brähler ICS UK. “Making that work properly in a conference environment would require a technician to go out into the room and enter a separate key sequence for every station. In reality, that isn’t going to happen very often, so a one-time key tends to be used.” Uniquely in the market,
Brähler believes, its Digimic wireless system benefits from constantly changing encryption with a different key used every 10 seconds.
“If our encryption were subject to a brute force attack it would need to be broken within 10 seconds before the key changed again. If it were broken on one attack in less than 10 seconds, in say seven seconds, the eavesdropper would only be able to pick up on three seconds of audio before the key changed yet again. Consequently, any interruption would be very brief.”
4. THE IR VS RF DEBATE REMAINS UNRESOLVED. Audio-Technica’s ATCS-60 conference system is just one of the infrared-based systems to have come to market in recent years, combining as it does IR communication with wireless transceiver units to provide the user with (according to the company) “greater flexibility while configuring the system and freedom of choice when placing microphones”. AKG utilises IR-based language distribution in both its wired CS3 and CS5 conference systems, with Giczy observing that security issues mean that IR is “the preferred medium to distribute translated languages. RF, encrypted or not, is just too dangerous in
BOSCH DCN DELIVERS FOR NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT
The DCN multimedia conference system from Bosch provided a secure, reliable solution for the recent two-day Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague in the Netherlands. Staged at the World Forum Convention Center, the event attracted 58 world leaders to discuss ways of improving co-operation in the prevention of nuclear terrorism around the globe. The system installed by
JACOT Audiovisueel comprised a central DCN multimedia audio powering switch and, for each participant, a DCN multimedia conference device
www.installation-international.com
equipped with a touchscreen combining audio, video and meeting content as well as internet access, a two-way loudspeaker and a microphone with a speaking distance of 60cm.
Among the advantages of using the DCN system was the ability to avoid the need to place conference monitors in the centre of the room. There were also many strengths in terms of security, with Bosch Security Systems’ Lars Van Den Heuvel remarking: “Meeting owners need to be able to rely on the conference system
completely. By providing a secure and surveyed solution, the DCN multimedia system enables meetings to continue as planned with minimum risk of data loss. The system features cable redundancy. Next to this all the audio and data that is running through the system is encrypted securely, in accordance with internationally recognised standards. This means that DCN multimedia is strongly protected against tampering and unauthorised access of the system; extremely important in highly secured or sensitive meetings.”
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CASE STUDY
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