The 62nd Annual ASIS International Seminar and Exhibits, aka ‘The Show’, is next week (yes already). Over the last couple of weeks I have shared my take on show resources and ideas as well as some thoughts on the show, security and data.

I have been in the security industry for over 20 years and I still get excited for the annual conference. The reason is simple and well summarized by ASIS International: “For every threat and security challenge that exists—there’s a solution to be discovered at ASIS 2016 (…)”! That statement motivated me to create my “show bucket list” for #ASIS16.

Eye in the Sky #drones

Initially with a lot of fanfare and hoopla, Unmanned vehicles, specifically, Drones started making waves in the security industry. More recently the advancements seem to have taken some serious steps forward. With some firms going as far as to compare their approach to a kind of “flying security guard”. Drones that can be equipped with day and night-vision cameras, bright lights, loudspeakers, and specially developed artificial intelligence and navigational systems. Allowing certain drones to fly low and fast, avoiding obstacles in structure-dense environments, and detecting human activity or faces in the area, autonomously. This technology intrigues me to say the least. I am still a little leery because as the popular saying goes: detection without response is simply not detection! There are obvious parallels between flying security guards and Remote Video Monitoring (RVM), which was pretty hot years ago, but now in full motion. I cannot wait to learn more!

It’s all About Data, #BigData

Data, big and small and in all its forms and names is trending and not only in security circles. With Security Workforce Management Softwares, such as TrackTik (booth 2950), enabling security companies and their clients to harness the data generated by the millions of front line security providers around the world. The impact of this is substantial as it essentially means that now Corporate Security groups, supported by enabled security contractors, can count on data driven security decisions and to quote W. Edwards Deming, “Without data you’re just another person with an opinion!” Harnessing and optimizing this data is one of the biggest development in the frontline security market today.

Robots Taking Over #thefutureisnow

Building on unmanned vehicles, Robots, are gaining popularity with some large Security Service Providers having already stated that they will be proposing robots to be working alongside of their security guards. Robots are fascinating to me because of their ability to gather data and truly impact the outsourced and in-house security market. They also represent the intersection of self-driving vehicles, data gathering devices, remote video monitoring, outsourced services and real time video. With robots edging into the private security industry, patrolling parking lots, a shopping center and corporate campuses one company has said that by adding their robots and working with security staff it is going to turn security professionals into super humans!

#Convergence (not the movie)

Convergence has been on everyone’s agenda for years. It has morphed into the latest generic term for the merging between Physical Security and Information Security. I will be looking for seminars and booths that talk about the convergence between the two aforementioned segments as well as the impact of cybersecurity and its issues, headline grabbing attacks, ransomware campaigns on security programs. Is all the cyber security attention good or bad for the industry as a whole? Is it tougher to get budget dollars for non-cyber projects? There seems to be an obvious highlight on the importance of data and business language for all programs to be able to progress. The C-Suite clearly will support projects that are identified as being most critical or having the most impact on the business.

Threats, Prevention, Response #Orlando

Orlando is home to the largest university in the United States based on undergraduate enrolment. The city of more than 2.3 million is also home to many theme parks and other tourist attractions. Due to their nature and the volume of people onsite, places such as these are sometimes perceived as soft targets. Internationally soft targets and mitigation measures have been generating a lot of attention and usually not for the right reasons. I am keen to learn more about how security companies and in-house groups are maximizing technology, intelligence, public/private liaison, security mindset and training to help manage the threats, prevention and response related to soft targets. I am hoping to leave the show with more ideas on response management and driving home security awareness and the sentiment that security is everyone’s business.

The conference will go by very quickly and the items identified will likely take most if not all of my time, if there happens to be any time left then I will look for insight into Bring Your Own Device issues (BYOD), Internet of Things (IoT), Open source Intelligence (OSINT) and Standards. With a specific eye on how they tie into security workforce management software.

For both good reasons and bad, our industry is full of potential with the proof being in the numbers. Namely, from a 2013 study done by ASIS International and the Institute of Finance and Management IOFM, entitled national (ASIS) “The United States Security Industry: Size and Scope, Insights, Trends, and Data,” “Security is a $350 billion market with “Operational (non-IT) private security spending estimated to be $202 billion and the number of full-time security workers is estimated to be between 1.9 and 2.1 million”.

I would love to hear what security industry trends you are intrigued by and what you are looking for at the show, send me an email at: [email protected].  If you are at the show and have a few minutes, then please drop by the booth (#2950) to chat.

See you at the show!