Industry Insight

It's Not Your Father's ISC East

• By Dean Russo
• Oct 01, 2006

SOCIETY'S demand and dependence on technology remains at an all-time high. And whether you serve as an independent consultant, integrator or as a corporate or municipal security professional, your success depends largely on how technology can serve you better. From using IP protocols for remote monitoring and integrating multiple software products to protecting data and eliminating breaches, technology is in every part of your professional life.

How did technology get here so fast? And how do you stay on top of it to leverage its capabilities and opportunities while the people and property that you are obligated to protect are safe?

If you haven't been to an ISC East event recently, then you may not be fully prepared for today's security challenges, and you certainly don't know about the many innovations and enhancements that have been made to this significant autumn event. New York is the perfect venue to host the largest concentration of dealers and integrators in any one region of the United States. Since ISC East's return to the Big Apple three years ago, a quick look at the changes and enhancements might be all it takes for you to realize professional and personal advancement. But that's not all.

More to Come
This year, ISC East will run concurrently with Infosecurity, the premier East Coast IT security event, on Oct. 24-25, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. While each has its own floor space and identity, there are ample opportunities to visit and network with IT vendors and IT professionals, while those same IT professionals will visit ISC to learn more about physical security. To help spark that dynamic, there are several presentations and programs designed to encourage dialog and networking. Here, staying in touch with suppliers, hearing about their latest upgrades and innovations and, most importantly, learning what's on the horizon can make all the difference in the world.

ISC East and Infosecurity, together, will be an integration of four C's: community, commerce, content and convergence. These four C's will form a wealth of ideas, inspiration and insight for you as you seek to leverage the numerous opportunities in today's fast-paced and dynamic security environment.

Since returning to New York, ISC East has experienced two consecutive years of growth, bringing more than 9,100 security professionals together to meet and discuss common challenges and solutions. From national industry groups, such as NBFAA and its state and regional chapters who hold membership meetings and events, the place to network and meet peers is at ISC East. Dealers, integrators, corporate security end users, CIOs and IT managers all need to talk to each other to seamlessly integrate each other's worlds, but there's never enough time to do this while you're on the job. This show will further bridge the IT and physical worlds by presenting two keynote presentations.

The first, on Oct. 24, will feature Mark J. Mershon, the assistant director-in-charge of the New York office of the FBI, who will be talking about the FBI's focus and activities on counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism and cyber crime while emphasizing key public-private partnerships that the FBI seeks to enhance.

Attend and Learn
At ISC East, there are more than 500 suppliers on-hand to deliver the latest technologies, applications and solutions to fully integrate and converge technology. Industry leaders, such as ASSA ABLOY, Bosch, Brinks, DSC, Honeywell Security, IR Security & Safety, NAPCO Security Group, Panasonic, Pelco and Tyco, are at ISC East this year, supporting local dealers and integrator customers. With ongoing support from ISC show sponsor SIA, ISC East continues to be the most all-encompassing security event on the East Coast to conduct business.

While you're on the show floor, don't miss the Urban Security pavilion, featuring the latest products and solutions for today's government and municipal security challenges from perimeter protection and fencing to cameras, detection and crisis management and communication services.

Education and training are the keys to future success. At ISC East, the educational program enables participants to learn from the best educators and faculty in the business and get up to speed on the latest technology and critical industry knowledge. From systems design, technology applications, networking/IP, homeland security, CCTV/surveillance and management issues, to the all new IP Institute program featuring faculty from Cisco, Microsoft, Axis Communications, HID Corp., DVTel and Gompers Inc., the educational program will put you light years ahead.

The IP Institute, Oct. 23, is a full-day course dedicated to providing timely information on the latest trends, best practices and new technologies involved in the design, implementation and support of IP-centric and integrated physical security solutions. It's a great way to get started on learning how you can enhance your professional development and technical skill set to be prepared for tomorrow's challenges.

Trends Addressed
You've seen and heard the word, but have you actually experienced it in real life? If you haven't, plan to join the panel discussion on Oct. 25 at noon, "Not on My Network," where a multi-functional panel -- Ron Moritz, chief security strategist at CA; Boulton Fernando, former CSO of Technicolor, now at Indymac Bank; Irene Lam, Tyco Fire & Security; and Jim Henry, CEO of Henry Brothers Electronics -- will discuss the latest convergence projects from the highs and the lows. The panel will be moderated by CSO magazine. Hear an honest, first-hand account from a group who has collaborated on a convergence project.

They will discuss how, when and how much time it took to complete the scope of the project. Then ask them questions about your upcoming integration.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This an adage that I like to apply to ISC East. They'll be a lot of great new improvements to the event, while providing the best city in the world in which to conduct business -- New York. Who wouldn't want to eat a great Italian dinner in Little Italy, take in a show on Broadway or enjoy the excitement of Times Square? Just because you're here to conduct business, there's no better place to enjoy the experience. We look forward to seeing you in New York. And who knows? Maybe there will be a World Series game at Yankee or Shea Stadium. If I had my choice, it would be Yankee Stadium.