May 19, 2016

4 Broadcast Network Security Concerns Addressed by the iCap Encoder

Dave Watts

The iCap Encoder is the market leading SDI closed caption encoder for a majority of broadcast and cable networks throughout North America. In addition, our encoders have been implemented by a number of high security governmental and business institutions where they are trusted to provide quality closed captioning services for confidential meetings and internal communications. This post shines a light on the common customer network security concerns we’ve designed our tried and true iCap technology around.

1. Protection from Unauthorized Parties Viewing Content Transmitted Over iCap

  • All video and audio data is encrypted with time-sensitive rotating keys before leaving the encoder.
  • Data on iCap can only ever be downloaded and decrypted by a vendor you have previously given explicit permission to within the iCap system.
  • Your video and audio data streams in real-time to an approved EEG application and is not downloaded/cached to the vendor’s computer permanently.
  • As a precaution - Be sure to have appropriate confidentiality agreements with approved vendors.

2. Protection from Unauthorized Parties Sending Caption Data to Encoders

  • Data on iCap can only be sent to your encoders by a vendor you have given explicit permission within the iCap system.
  • You have access to detailed connection logs saying which vendor is in the encoder at all times, ensuring full accountability.
  • All account traffic is encrypted with SSL.
  • No data can be entered on the iCap system at all without using an approved client application that takes appropriate security precautions.
  • For added security - vendors should agree to change operator passwords frequently.

3. Minimal Changes in Broadcast Firewalls

  • iCap traffic is outbound only, so no inbound access ever needs to be granted.
  • No public IP address or inbound port forwarding is required.
  • All iCap traffic occurs out to a specific whitelist of server IPs published by EEG, and occurs over a small group of outbound ports.

4. Protection Against Hacking and Viruses

  • Secure Linux OS with regular patches issued based on publicly known security bugs (support subscription req. to maintain access to patches.)
  • Security options can be set to require a passcode and/or physical access to the unit front panel to overwrite any configurations.

iCap powers your broadcast with thousands of iCap caption partners around the globe and eliminates the outdated need for a pair of phone lines to transfer audio feedback to the captioner. This cost savings combined with a host of security, logging, and monitoring features makes iCap the safest bet when choosing a reliable closed captioning system to implement in your broadcast plant.

Click HERE to learn more about the features and functionality of the iCap Encoder.