Modern broadcast ecosystems increasingly rely on IP networks and are responsible for everything from signal acquisition to control, monitoring, and distribution. They store and provide access to the highest value media assets. They orchestrate everything.

For security to be truly effective, everyone has to be on board, and understanding why is the first step to ensuring your IP broadcast networks remain impenetrable to attack. Because for a potential hacker looking for a way in, everything is up for grabs.

This updated reference work on IP Security For Broadcasters covers not only the whole technology stack but the psychology of security too. It identifies where the threats are and how to encourage users to remain vigilant. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of fundamental encryption protocols, and it acknowledges a range of theoretical approaches to security.

Ultimately, it helps keep hackers out and your vital assets safe.

IP Security For Broadcasters - The Book 2026

This eBook is a free PDF download which contains 12 original reference articles.

Article 1. The Psychology Of Security
As the boundaries between traditional broadcast engineering and IT continue to dissolve, the first consideration when designing security is a simple instruction – always consider the user.

Article 2. The Problem To Be Solved
By assuming that IP must be made secure, we run the risk of missing a more fundamental question that is often overlooked: why is IP so insecure?

Article 3. IPsec Explained
Open standards that promote routing of IP packets between networks can open the door to various security concerns. The good news is that we have solutions to alleviate these challenges.

Article 4. MACsec Explained
IPsec and VPNs provide strong security across untrusted networks but within a LAN, where latency and determinism are critical, a different approach is often required.

Article 5. NAT Explained
When IPv4 was designed, four billion unique addresses seemed plenty. It wasn't. Network Address Translation is a practical fix, but it has trade-offs. Here's how it works, and where it gets complicated.

Article 6. NAT And VPN
Making NAT work with IPsec is a fundamental challenge that needs detailed configuration to avoid operational issues when deployed in a broadcast environment.

Article 7. Operating Systems
Operating systems represent a massive opportunity for hackers and increasing convergence between broadcast and IT infrastructure demands a proactive, layered approach to security.

Article 8. RADIUS Network Access
Broadcast organizations are attractive targets due to both the value of their media assets and their public visibility. It means maintaining controlled access to broadcast networks is critical.

Article 9. NMOS Security
NMOS has succeeded in providing interoperability between media devices on IP infrastructures; here are provisions within its specifications to help maintain system security.

Article 10. NATS Advanced Messaging
As IT and broadcast infrastructures become ever more complex, the secure exchange of data is becoming more challenging. NATS messaging simplifies collaboration between software applications.

Article 11. EBU R143: Building Security Into Broadcast Operations
Disaster recovery is a key component of secure systems and EBU R143 provides a framework by defining common expectations for both broadcasters and equipment vendors.

Article 12. Zero Trust
Zero trust is a security strategy with three fundamental tenets: never trust and always verify; implement least privilege; and always assume a security breach.