Networking

VLAN

Also called: Virtual LAN, network segmentation

A logical network segment on shared physical switching, used to isolate device groups — cameras, AV, guest Wi-Fi, corporate data — from each other.

VLANs are the cheapest security control in a building. Cameras and door controllers have no business reaching accounting workstations, and a compromised smart display should not see a file server. Segmenting by function limits both broadcast noise and lateral movement after a breach.

For AV and security work, VLAN design has to be agreed with whoever owns the network before install, including inter-VLAN rules for the traffic that legitimately must cross — control systems reaching displays, a VMS reaching cameras, an MTR reaching Microsoft 365. Handing over a device list with required ports beats discovering the firewall on cutover day.

Related terms

QoS: Switch and router configuration that prioritises latency-sensitive traffic — audio, video, voice — over bulk traffic when a link gets congested.
PoE: Delivery of DC power and data over the same Ethernet cable, so cameras, access points, phones, and displays need no local outlet.
Zero Trust: A security model that treats no network as inherently safe, verifying identity, device health, and authorisation for every request rather than trusting anything inside a perimeter.
VMS: Software that records, stores, searches, and distributes video from many cameras, and hosts the analytics and access rules on top of them.

More Networking terms

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