Abstract: An internet protocol based audio alert system for managing security across a site has a network of a central server computer (12), a central client computer (14) and a remote client computer (30) communicating across the internet (16) with a plurality of programmable edge devices (18). The programmable edge devices (18) control the operation of an audiovisual input unit and an audiovisual output unit (20, 22, 24, 26) located across the site. The programmable edge devices (18) are programmed with software to enable them to store alert messages, which are short alert messages, and send the alert messages to the audiovisual output element where the alert messages are broadcast in response to triggers received by the audiovisual input unit. The audiovisual output unit include a loudspeaker assembly (22) connected to each programmable edge device.