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What is a Converged Network?

Here's a diagram of what one looks like:
Diagram of a multi-story building with labeled systems (security, lighting, energy, parking, etc.), two clouds labeled “Secure Access” and “24x7x365 Monitoring & Maintenance” connected at the base.

Everyone agrees: CRE has too many acronyms! Case in point: depending on who you talk to a building systems network is known as:

  • Converged Network (CN)
  • Converged Network System (CNS)
  • Base Building Network (BBN)
  • Building Services Network (BSN)
  • Integrated Communications Network (ICN)

It’s all the same! All of these terms simply describe a single network, located in a building, that is dedicated to running the building systems.

In its simplest form, a converged network is the communications infrastructure that connects the building systems – like Access Control, BAS/BMS, Security System, etc. The converged network is dedicated (separate from Corporate IT and tenants). Its sole purpose is to keep building systems secure, up, and running.

You can see that the building systems are connected to a common infrastructure (green lines) that is monitored and maintained (blue cloud on the right), and that users are able to securely access specific systems (blue cloud on the left).

Here's a diagram of what one looks like:
A smart building diagram showing 12 systems like WiFi, elevators, and security cameras, all connected to secure access and 24/7/365 monitoring via cloud services.

What Most Converged Networks Look Like Today

Diagram of a multi-story building showing separate vertical lines for systems like elevator, access control, and WiFi, each connected to its own modem with a warning about non-secure vendor and staff network access.
A long, thin turquoise arrow pointing to the right on a light gray background.
It’s not pretty, and it’s not cybersecure!
A long, thin turquoise arrow pointing to the right on a light gray background.

In most buildings, everything is a tangled mess – the result of years of people “just doing stuff.” As a result, most buildings don’t know what they have, where it’s located, or how it’s connected. If that sounds like your situation, click the link to learn how most buildings start with an assessment.

Diagram of a building showing six separate networks (elevator, BMS/HVAC, energy, access control, WiFi, security cameras, lighting) with direct, non-secure modem access and no centralized network monitoring.
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Minimalist graphic of three dark rectangular buildings of varying heights, with two in the foreground and one taller building set behind them, on a light gray background.
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