My First ISC West Experience

I've known that I would be attending ISC West for about three months before the first day of the show. In that time frame, I've heard many things from those in the industry about the show. I knew that it was going to be huge (Due to the fact that everyone told me to wear comfy shoes!) and I knew I would be meeting with a lot of companies that are on the cutting edge of the security industry. What I found when I got here was so much more than that.

All in all, I met with 16 companies on my first day at the show. At every booth I was greeted kindly and excitedly marched over to the newest innovations to be given the spiel. While I expected that my time at the booths would be pretty similar to this, I didn't expect to feel so much.

At each and every booth that I visited, I was faced with a new person who was passionate about speaking on behalf of their newest products. I could see the sheer pleasure on their faces as they told someone new about this thing they'd been working on for so long. It was their baby and they were introducing to the world.

This comparison rang true at several of the booths I visited. One booth, which had not decided upon the name for a new product, talked about how it had yet to be baptized. A metaphor not unfamiliar to new parents.

These security professionals made me feel proud and excited about their accomplishments,too. This is what I believe ISC West is all about. Getting the opportunity to come together as an industry, show off our shiny new stuff and revel in how we are making the world a more secure place.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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