September 2026 Issue

Welcome to September’s special edition of International Security Buyer featuring GSX and Security Essen extensive previews from the show organisers and exhibitors alike.  

In this issue we examine how access control is evolving as organisations demand greater interoperability and flexibility, while our data storage feature considers the growing importance of managing expanding volumes of security information effectively. We also look at biometrics in education, where technological capability has to be considered alongside privacy, proportionality and the particular responsibilities associated with protecting students. 

Our regional focus turns to the Middle East, where ambitious infrastructure programmes and smart city development are creating opportunities to consider security as part of a much broader connected environment. It is a market where integration, resilience and long-term planning are becoming increasingly important considerations. 

The people behind that change are equally important. Our Innovator Interview with Michael Lawrence of Dahua explores technology development and the direction of the surveillance market, while our Big Interview with ASIS International provides a wider perspective on the profession and the issues influencing security practitioners internationally, that we are likely to see at GSX. 

We also speak with Yolanda Hamblen for our Power25 series. Yolanda’s work around wellbeing, inclusion and professional development brings the conversation back to the people working within security, particularly the frontline officers whose contribution can sometimes be overlooked when we focus too heavily on technology. 

Elsewhere, our Expert Interviews bring perspectives from Traka, HID, DoorBird, Dallmeier, ASSA ABLOY and Gallagher Security. Collectively, these conversations examine different parts of the security ecosystem and give us an opportunity to hear directly from those working on the technologies and challenges shaping the market. 

There is plenty of practical technology to discover too. Product highlights from Paxton, OPTEX and Integrated Control Technology sit alongside our exhibitor highlights, providing a closer look at some of the solutions visitors can expect to encounter during a busy exhibition season.