The convergence of Audio Visual and Information Technology is no longer something we talk about as the future, it has become the reality of how modern systems are designed, deployed and supported.

Over the years, we've watched AV evolve from largely standalone environments into highly connected ecosystems built on enterprise networks. Today, AV systems rely on cloud platforms, centralized management, cybersecurity policies, APIs, analytics tools and increasingly, AI-driven capabilities. As a result, the line between AV and IT continues to become less defined.

This became particularly evident during a recent AV–Fire Alarm Interface troubleshooting project.

What initially appeared to be a straightforward AV issue quickly turned into something much broader. As the investigation progressed, we found ourselves looking beyond the AV equipment and into network configurations, communication pathways, control system behaviors and integration dependencies between multiple systems.

The root cause wasn't a failed device or a simple configuration error. It was the interaction between technologies operating within a shared environment.

This experience reinforced several observations that many AV professionals are currently encountering. In a previous piece on AVIXA Xchange, I discussed the relationship between AV and IT; however, I believe this dynamic is now undergoing significant change.

1. AV Professionals Need Strong IT Awareness:

A solid understanding of networking is no longer a specialist skill within AV, it is becoming a fundamental requirement.

Whether we're discussing VLANs, multicast traffic, QoS, network segmentation, cybersecurity policies, APIs, or cloud-based device management, these topics now play a direct role in how AV systems perform and how effectively they can be supported throughout their lifecycle.

As AV-over-IP continues to mature, technical conversations increasingly resemble IT conversations.

2. Interoperability Has Become a Major Project Driver:

Very few projects today operate within a single-vendor ecosystem.

Organizations expect AV systems to integrate seamlessly with enterprise technologies, building systems, collaboration platforms, security infrastructure and cloud services. This places greater emphasis on interoperability and open standards than ever before.

The growing industry momentum around standards such as IPMX reflects the need for scalable, flexible and vendor-agnostic solutions that can adapt to changing operational requirements.

Increasingly, project success depends less on individual products and more on how effectively systems work together.

3. Cybersecurity Is No Longer an Afterthought:

Every connected display, DSP, controller, camera, or endpoint becomes part of the organization's broader technology landscape.

As AV systems continue to move onto enterprise networks, cybersecurity considerations must be addressed from the earliest stages of design rather than after deployment. Security reviews, access controls, firmware management, network policies and ongoing maintenance have become part of the AV conversation.

This shift requires closer collaboration between AV and IT teams and a shared understanding of risk management.

4. Software and Data Are Becoming Just as Important as Hardware:

The AV industry has traditionally been hardware-focused, but that balance continues to change.

Today, monitoring platforms, analytics dashboards, automation workflows, remote diagnostics and AI-assisted management tools are playing an increasingly important role in delivering reliable user experiences.

Hardware remains critical, but software and operational data are becoming equally valuable assets in managing system performance and supporting long-term operational goals.

5. Collaboration Remains the Most Important Success Factor:

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this project was not technical.

The most successful outcomes occur when AV, IT, Facilities, Security and Operations teams work together from the beginning of a project through commissioning and ongoing support.

As technology ecosystems become more interconnected, shared ownership, clear communication and mutual understanding become just as important as technical expertise.

Looking Ahead...

The conversations within our industry have changed significantly over the last decade.

Where discussions once centered around displays, switching, signal transport and cabling, they now increasingly focus on cybersecurity, interoperability, cloud management, analytics, AI and enterprise infrastructure.

The future of professional AV is not simply AV-over-IP.

It is AV operating as a secure, intelligent and data-driven service within a larger enterprise technology ecosystem.

The organizations that will thrive in this environment will be those that successfully bridge the gap between AV and IT while fostering stronger collaboration across all stakeholders involved in the user experience.

Discussion Question for AV and IT Communities :

How is your organization managing the growing overlap between AV and IT responsibilities? Have you established shared ownership models, or do traditional departmental boundaries still exist?