You face the continuous challenge of maintaining and updating your AV and IT standards to remain competitive and secure. Regular assessment and adjustment of these standards isn’t merely a technical exercise—it’s a strategic imperative that directly impacts business agility, operational efficiency, and market position.
The stakes for proper standardization have never been higher. As organizations increasingly rely on digital infrastructure to drive business value, the ability to effectively assess and adjust AV and IT standards becomes a critical differentiator between market leaders and followers. Companies with complex global operations and diverse technological ecosystems must be particularly vigilant in maintaining standards that both protect their assets and enable innovation.
Security and Compliance Frameworks
At the forefront of AV and IT standards assessment lies security and compliance. Modern enterprises must maintain robust frameworks that align with international standards such as ISO 27001, NIST, and industry-specific regulations. These frameworks must be regularly evaluated to ensure they address emerging threats while maintaining compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. This means continually testing gear that lives on the network. Security standards should cover everything from endpoint protection and network security to identity management and incident response protocols.
Infrastructure and Architecture Standards
The backbone of any enterprise IT operation lies in its infrastructure and architecture standards. These standards govern hardware specifications, network configurations, cloud services utilization, and system interconnectivity. Organizations must regularly assess whether their infrastructure standards support current business needs while providing sufficient scalability for future growth. This includes evaluating standards for:
- Cloud service providers
- Network capacity
- Disaster recovery capabilities
Data Management and Governance
Data drives business decisions. Standards for data management and governance are crucial. Organizations must assess and refine their standards for managing data throughout its lifecycle. A robust classification system must be established to properly categorize and handle different types of data based on sensitivity and business value. Storage protocols need to be clearly defined to ensure data is maintained securely and efficiently across all storage platforms. Organizations should implement comprehensive retention policies that specify how long different types of data should be kept and establish clear procedures for proper data disposal when it reaches the end of its lifecycle.
Data quality management processes must be put in place to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and reliability of data across all systems. Master data management strategies should be developed to maintain consistency of critical business data across multiple systems and departments. Additionally, organizations must implement strong data privacy protections that safeguard sensitive information while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
Video Conferencing Infrastructure
Video conferencing standards must address both technical and user experience aspects of virtual meetings. Network bandwidth requirements need to be clearly defined and monitored to ensure consistent performance. Video quality specifications should be established to maintain professional communication standards across all platforms. Organizations must set appropriate latency thresholds and implement monitoring systems to maintain them.
The selection of video codecs should be standardized across the organization to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. Resolution standards must be established that balance quality with network efficiency. Frame rate requirements should be defined to ensure smooth video delivery. Organizations need to implement comprehensive failover protocols to maintain service during technical difficulties. Redundancy requirements must be established and maintained to ensure system reliability.
Picking a favorite video software doesn’t mean excluding everyone else. Design your systems to accept a variety of systems. This could involve a PC with different programs loaded. Other times, you bring connections to the table that allow a meeting to take place from a laptop. Ensure the money you’re investing is going as far as possible.
Meeting Room Technologies
Enterprise meeting room standards must evolve beyond basic audiovisual equipment to create consistent, technology-enabled spaces that support hybrid collaboration. A standardized approach to display systems should be implemented across all meeting spaces. Room control interfaces need to be intuitive and consistent throughout the organization. Acoustic treatments must be specified and implemented to ensure optimal sound quality in all meeting spaces.
Room classifications should be established with clear guidelines for technology requirements at each level. Camera positioning standards need to be developed to ensure optimal video capture in all spaces. Microphone coverage patterns must be carefully planned to provide clear audio pickup throughout meeting rooms. Display configurations should be standardized based on room size and purpose. Room scheduling systems need to be integrated with enterprise calendaring solutions to streamline meeting management.
Communication Platforms Standardization
To prevent communication silos and ensure efficient collaboration, enterprises must establish comprehensive standards for their unified communications platforms. Team collaboration tools must be standardized to promote efficient group work and prevent tool proliferation. Platform governance needs to be clearly defined and consistently enforced. User provisioning processes should be automated and standardized across all communication platforms. Access controls must be implemented to protect sensitive communications while enabling necessary collaboration. Content retention policies need to be established and enforced across all communication channels.
Phased Approach to Changes
Companies and technologies come and go. Consolidation and acquisitions are an ever-present aspect of the IT and AV industries. When that happens, you must look at your existing standard and ensure the long term viability of the companies those standards are based on. Large-scale standards implementation demands a carefully structured approach that begins with a controlled pilot phase in a limited environment. This should be followed by a gradual rollout to non-critical systems to minimize risk. Implementation should proceed department by department to ensure proper training and adoption. Organizations must include buffer periods between implementation phases to allow for adjustment and learning. Comprehensive contingency planning needs to be developed and maintained throughout the implementation process.
Training and Support
Comprehensive training programs should be developed to support standards implementation. Role-based training modules need to be created to address specific user needs. Self-service resources must be made available to support independent learning. Complete documentation should be maintained and easily accessible to all users. Regular office hours need to be established to provide direct support. Support sessions should be offered in multiple formats to accommodate different learning styles. Virtual training options must be provided to support remote workers. Peer champion programs need to be established to provide local support and encouragement.
Emerging Technologies
Organizations must prepare for the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into their standard operations. Edge computing requirements need to be anticipated and planned for in infrastructure standards. Quantum-safe security protocols should be evaluated and incorporated into security standards as they mature. Extended reality technologies must be considered in future standards development. Organizations need to assess how blockchain and distributed ledger systems might impact their operations and adjust standards accordingly.
Digital Transformation
Key trends in digital transformation need to be reflected in AV and IT standards through the implementation of composable business architecture approaches. Zero-trust security frameworks must be incorporated into security standards. Customer experience platforms need to be standardized across the organization. Automation and hyper-automation should be leveraged to improve efficiency and consistency. Cloud-native technologies must be evaluated and incorporated into development and deployment standards.
Constantly Ready for Change
The assessment and adjustment of standards represent a critical ongoing process that directly impacts organizational success in the digital age. The complexity of modern enterprise environments demands a balanced approach that combines rigorous technical standards with practical implementation strategies.
As technology continues to drive business transformation, the importance of effective AV and IT standards will only increase. Organizations must take decisive action to assess, adjust, and maintain their standards to ensure long-term success in an increasingly digital world. Those who successfully navigate this challenge will find themselves better positioned to capitalize on new opportunities while maintaining the stability and security their stakeholders expect.
Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.
