Security Buyer Editor, Rebecca, catches up exclusively with Mary Beth Shaughnessy, Event Director, ISC West
What can we expect from this year’s event?
An elevated show experience that is more than double the size of ISC West 2021 and a bit more “normal” than 2021. We currently have over 500 exhibitors & brands and are expecting over 100 new exhibitors. All our ISC West supporting partners are back and have committed to hosting their events this year, including the Mission 500 5k Run/2k Walk, SAMMY Awards & Hall of Fame, the SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast, SIA Market Leaders Reception and the day before ISC West opens on Tuesday, March 22, the FAST Golf Classic Tournament which supports Initiatives to Grow the Workforce in the Electronic Security and Life Safety Industry. This year’s event will also feature two high profile keynote speakers and 60+ SIA Education@ISC sessions, plus over two dozen networking & special event opportunities including many taking place at The Bridge, our new content hub and experiential area located in the heart of the Show Floor.
What type of visitors frequent the show?
Security & Public Safety Professionals which include: Residential & Commercial Dealers/Installers, System Integrators, IT Integrators/VARs, End-Users from various vertical markets, Law Enforcement & Public Safety, Central Station Owners/Managers, Security Specifiers & Consultants. This year, the show also has stronger focus on the younger generation, women in security, consultants, and IT professionals, to help reflect the ever-changing security ecosystem.
Over 65 sessions will be taking place. Which ones are you looking forward to the most?
- Artificial Intelligence & Access Control Alarms: Amplifying the Signal While Suppressing the Noise
- Converged Technology How to Build a Bridge Between Expectations and Implementation
- Achieving Profitability & Growth in Systems Integration Depends on These Key Factors
- Analytics and Public Safety – Know Your Customer
- Real-World Cybersecurity for Secure Installations
What are the biggest themes present?
The thread that runs through the entire event is the convergence of cyber and physical security and our ISC West Show Floor truly exemplifies the theme of Comprehensive Security for a Safer, Connected World. People and the devices they employ to protect businesses, teams, critical infrastructure and the public are increasingly connected to the internet. IoT has enabled data science and analytics to vastly increase the efficiency of security departments, but it has also introduced a threat vector that must be addressed in a comprehensive security environment. People come to ISC West to see the very latest in advanced technology and how those technologies interact with proven products and strategies to provide better overall protection for their organisations.
What do you think are the main challenges the industry is currently facing?
Security leaders face an increasingly challenging risk domain in 2022. The lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are forcing security departments to devote more resources to employee health and safety. And an already challenging staffing environment has grown worse with the “Great Resignation.” Security leaders also must consider the political climate more than they have ever had to, and how it affects the safety of employees and property. Handling the convergence of cyber and physical security is changing security departments operationally and organisationally, forcing security professionals to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.
To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February issue here.
Media contact
Rebecca Morpeth Spayne,
Editor, Security Portfolio
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922
Email: editor@securitybuyer.com
