ASIS 2016
A Full Spectrum
An abundance of solutions at ASIS 2016
- By David C. Davis, CPP
- Jul 01, 2016
Security is the perfect business discipline. It’s infused with technology,
innovation and multifaceted applications that cross managerial,
sector and international borders. It is critical to sustaining a
nation’s infrastructure, including its nuclear arsenal. Security is a
central component of all transportation, whether by land, sea or
air. It is behind the scenes, ensuring the privacy of citizens whose financial transactions,
healthcare records and procedures, and retail purchases are handled with
sensitive attention to myriad details.
But I’m preaching to the choir, right? Your company not only faces these challenges
in the application of security products and services but also faces fierce
competition from emerging national and international players.
How can you stay ahead? How can you know that your access control systems, CCTV installations, and security awareness programs are providing the
protections that fuel the international
engines of commerce, keep employees
safe at work and while traveling, and
provide the solid metrics that point to
security professionals as the go-to experts
in all C-suite debates?
Staying on top of the array of factors
that must be considered requires a
vision that can give clarity to future decision
making. While security practices
are frequently under the scrutiny of regulations
and standards, a primary way
for security professionals to gain new
knowledge is by networking with peers.
The major annual networking and
education event on every security practitioner’s
calendar happens every fall. The
62nd Annual ASIS Seminar and Exhibits,
scheduled from Sept. 12-15, in Orlando,
is already creating a palpable buzz
within the profession. A top-notch group
of keynote speakers, peer-reviewed sessions,
a packed exhibit hall, and formal
and informal interaction with peers will
provide an unprecedented 360-degree
view of today’s security landscape.
Keynote Presenters: An amazing lineup
of renowned speakers will provide
their perspectives on events of the day.
Ted Koppel, journalist and author,
has embodied the term “eye-witness to
history” during his fifty-year career. Today,
Koppel serves as commentator and
non-fiction book reviewer for National
Public Radio. His most recent book,
Lights Out, evaluates ways for America
to prepare for a cyber-catastrophe.
Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for
Middle Eastern Studies at the Council
on Foreign Relations in Washington,
D.C. He served as deputy assistant to
the president and deputy national security
advisor in the administration of
President George W. Bush, where he supervised
U.S. policy in the Middle East
for the White House and served as senior
director of the National Security Council
for Near East and North African
affairs. ? Abrams will discuss the many
adversaries the U.S. faces in the Middle
East and in the Islamic world and offer
perspectives on U.S. foreign policy.
Dr. Beck Weathers’ miraculous story
of survival from one of the most violent
and deadly storms in the history of
Mt. Everest has captivated and inspired
the world for almost 20 years. His odyssey
was chronicled in the 2015 feature
film, Everest, starring Josh Brolin as
Weathers. Weathers will take audiences
back to that fateful day on Everest, and
reflect on his harrowing tale of survival
and the lessons learned while getting a
second chance at life.
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
More than 250 peer-reviewed sessions
will feature experts from around the
world discussing cutting-edge topics in
product specialties such as networked
cameras, contract security services,
cloud-based security, and mobile access
controls, as well as alarm monitoring
and emergency management tools.
How jihadists use social media to
recruit and terrorize nations as well
as how security practitioners can use
their digital arsenal to counter these
threats will foster open debate at many
sessions. Speakers will also provide updates
on ASIS/ANSI standards, boardcertified
credentials, and transitioning
into security from a military or law enforcement
career.
To pinpoint sessions of greatest interest,
a grid system in the on-site program
indicates all sessions produced by ASIS
and its education partner, ISC2. The
topics are separated into 25 categories,
including cloud security, forensics, crisis
management, investigations, mobile security,
and terrorism. A special section is
set aside specifically to address topics of
interest to security integrators.
In addition, seven day-long pre-seminar
classes will delve into industry issues,
such as how to secure drugs in the healthcare
industry, the latest trends in financial
services, and applications of CPTED and
workplace violence initiatives.
EXCITING EXHIBITS FLOOR
Opportunities for companies to speak
one-on-one with current and potential
clients in the exhibit hall occur for
more than eight hours each day. In addition,
Tech Talk presentations in the
Solutions Theater gives companies the
stage to present how their products or
services have been used successfully in
various global contexts, followed by a
question and answer session with developers
and implementers. Poster presentations
give another avenue for attendees
to absorb details on how a specific
security problem was solved and to talk
through the solution with the person at
the core of the issue.
Many resources are available to
search out specific products and services
on the floor, including the Show
Planner, the ASIS Show Daily newspaper,
and the ASIS 2016 mobile app.
Attendees can receive up-to-the minute
program updates and industry news by
following @ASIS_Intl or the conference
hashtag, #ASIS16.
ASIS TV will broadcast on Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday, featuring
news from the exhibit floor and product
highlights. The videos will be broadcast
on monitors around the convention
center as well as on the ASIS Digital
Wall and on www.securityexpo.org.
The prestigious Accolades “Security’s
Best” Awards recognizes new
ventures that are designed to become
security mainstays. All exhibitors are
invited to submit products and services
introduced within the past year to a
team of judges who evaluate the entries.
The judges include end users as
well as experts in physical and information
security.
In their submissions, companies are
asked to describe a difficulty with existing
security technologies and explain
how their new product or service solves
the problem. Attendees will be invited
to vote for their own “People’s Choice
Award” through the ASIS mobile app
or a dedicated kiosk in the exhibit hall.
Winners will be announced at Monday’s
Networking Luncheon, and the
awards will be featured at their booths.
FORMAL AND INFORMAL
NETWORKING
Mixers, receptions, lunches, breakfasts,
meetings, happy hours, lounges, council
booths and just walking through
the spacious hallways of the Orange
County Convention Center provide
a host of chances for attendees to
connect or reconnect with colleagues
in specific corporate, geographic, or
security specialties.
The onsite Career Center offers
free resume reviews, career coaching,
and education sessions for persons just
coming into the field, looking to transition
into new security positions, or simply
want to ensure their career is on the
right path.
IT’S ABOUT YOUR FUTURE
You know the importance of this annual
event to your bottom line. Where else
can you gather the latest products and
services that intrigue your security team?
Where else can you be excited by connecting
with the very security professionals
that push your managers to excel?
The ASIS International Annul Seminar
and Exhibits provides the best opportunity
to rejuvenate personal passions
for excellence and reinvigorate
your company’s security vision. Join
me in Orlando this September to do
just that.
This article originally appeared in the July 2016 issue of Security Today.