Don Erickson

In the wake of Securing New Ground event in New York City in 2016, the Security Industry Association (SIA) published an inaugural “Security Megatrends” report that assessed for major “megatrends” for the security industry in 2017. 10 major megatrends Only days ago, SIA published “Security Megatrends: The 2018 Vision for the Security Industry,” again identifying 10 major megatrends to watch in the year ahead. SIA saw a great deal of activity unfold in 2017, as it predicted, and tweaked several of the major megatrends for the year ahead while also identifying fresh concerns for the industry to watch. For example, for 2017, SIA predicted the Internet of Things (IoT) would forge new integrations between a vast, ever-growing array of systems, sensors, devices and services. Physical security, once a separate process made up of a distinct continuum of items, grew more networked with other services and things across IoT connections. As we continue into 2018, SIA foresees consumer applications leading the networking of connected devices, deepening home security connections into IoT. Cross-industry devices take the lead While enterprise investments have lagged in previous years, businesses will ramp up their use of connected solutions in the years ahead. Specific industry verticals, such as process sensors for electricity plants or real-time location devices in healthcare, will continue to drive enterprise investment in IoT.Going into 2018, cross-industry devices like those used in smart buildings, such as physical security systems, will take the lead Going into 2018, cross-industry devices like those used in smart buildings, such as physical security systems, will take the lead. Gartner Inc. expects cross-industry devices to reach 4.4 billion units by 2020 with vertical industry-specific devices at 3.2 billion in use. Transformation of the Channel Hand in hand with IoT developments, we see the emergence of a new megatrend in 2018 with the Transformation of the Channel. Consumers will demand flexibility, and companies will deliver. Month-to-month contracts from professional providers along with no contract monitoring will challenge fixed models of two- or three-year contracts. Traditional security providers will focus more on deepening the customer experience and enhancing convenience and service. The rise of IoT also places an emphasis on cybersecurity, and security dealers will react by seeking manufacturers and technology partners with cyber-hardened network-connected devices.

The SIA Security Market Index rose to 74.6 in November 2014, up from 72.3 in September SIA 2014/2014 Review and Forecast: The Security Industry Association (SIA) has begun to conduct a bimonthly survey of select SIA members to measure confidence in the security industry through the SIA Security Market Index. Using a scale of 1-100, the SIA Security Market Index reflected growing confidence among security industry business leaders throughout 2014 and into 2015. The SIA Security Market Index rose to 74.6 in November 2014, up from 72.3 in September. That continues a climb that began with an index that weighed in at only 62 in July 2014. When asked about expected business conditions in the next three months, November respondents were optimistic. Thirty-eight percent expect much better business conditions and 42 percent expect things a little better. The most upbeat: systems integration, security video, identity, cybersecurity and access control. The more cautious: fire/life safety, consulting and officer services. When asked what they expect over the course of the next 12 months specific to their company’s aggregate level of capital spending, November survey respondents are even more bullish than in previous 2014 surveys. In November, 64 percent expect such spending to increase. Much of the discussion around challenges in 2014 at SIA conferences revolved around the impact of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the security industry. IoT promises a world of smart, connected devices that are able to monitor and communicate their own status and the status of interconnected systems to make automated decisions for human convenience and efficiency. Many of these devices will provide data streams that could be used as part of security and risk management. In the aggregate, they will also produce enough information that Big Data analytics become more important for the improvement of an organisation's overall security posture. Many experts speaking at our 2014 Securing New Ground (SNG) conference this fall in New York City agreed the security industry will struggle with using of analytics effectively to make sense of and apply actionable intelligence to Big Data. Industry winners will make sense of collected data to empower security practitioners to mitigate or even to prevent incursions. See the full coverage of 2014/2015 Review and Forecast articles here

The Security Industry Association (SIA), the trade association representing security solutions providers, announced its strong opposition to the introduced bicameral Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. The bill would impose a blanket ban on most federal use of nearly all biometric and related image analytics technologies, incorrectly labelling all such technologies as surveillance regardless of application, while forcing essentially all state and local governments to do the same. Long-stayed technology The legislation looks to impend the safety of Americans by eliminating certain tools that have been in use for a decade or more to solve thousands of crimes, prevent fraud, allow access to critical infrastructure and, overall, keep Americans safe, while negating the research put into improving and developing safe, reliable and unbiased technology. Speaking about the use of facial recognition by the public sector, Don Erickson, CEO of SIA, said “When used effectively and responsibly, facial recognition technology keeps people safe and brings value to our everyday lives. While SIA welcomes a constructive dialogue over the use of facial recognition technology, the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act is regrettably not a workable solution to address reasonable concerns about the use of facial recognition. Alternatively, SIA would enthusiastically support legislation that ensures appropriate transparency, procedures and oversight.” The technology behind facial recognition is highly accurate and has vastly improved in the past few years. Government must use high-performing facial recognition technology for a given application, validated using sound, scientific methods, such as through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Facial Recognition Vendor Test program across demographic groups. Facial recognition in decision-making SIA encourages facial recognition to be used transparently, accurately, securely and always with a human in the loop when used in identification process that result in consequential decisions. As a matter of principle, its use in law enforcement must be as a secondary tool in investigations to assist personnel, who ultimately use other means to make an identification. Facial recognition increases the effectiveness and accuracy of this work and can actually limit the effects of inherent human bias in such applications. Value of facial recognition technology Kansas Department of Revenue’s use of facial recognition software Led to the investigation of forced labour trafficking case in the region, all through identifying cases of driver’s licence fraud in their facial recognition database. In New York City, facial recognition technology Was used by the New York City Police Department to identify a man who had left suspected bombs in rice cookers in and around a subway station. Airports safety and criminal information Facial recognition technology is deployed in dozens of airports across the United StatesAnd continues to grow. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and airport officials match passport photos to a database to verify the identity of thousands of travellers entering and leaving the U.S. each week. The technology is proving to be an important tool for border security. As of June 2020, nearly 300 individuals have been intercepted attempting to enter the U.S. under a fraudulent identity. Since 2015, the non-profit group Thorn has used facial recognitionAs part of a tool used to help rescue 15,000 children and identify 17,000 human traffickers. For example, after seeing an online post about a missing child from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, a law enforcement officer used Spotlight to return a list of sex ads featuring the girl. According to a WIRED story, the girl had been “sold for weeks,” and the officer’s actions initiated a process that “recovered and removed [her] from trauma.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) and SecureIDNews have selected five distinguished biometrics and security experts as the 2020 winners of the Women in Biometrics Awards – a globally recognised program co-founded by SIA and SecureIDNews and co-presented with sponsors IDEMIA, Biometric Update and the SIA Women in Security Forum. The honourees will be recognised during the 2020 SIA GovSummit, SIA’s annual government security conference, which will be hosted as a free virtual event June 1-4. On June 3 at 1 p.m. EDT, attendees will enjoy a special keynote panel session honouring the award winners – The Women in Biometrics Awards Presents the Future of Biometrics in Government Security Applications. Biometric exit solutions The Women in Biometrics Awards honour the efforts of top female experts helping drive the biometric identity and security industry. Nominees and past winners include those working for biometric companies, peripheral suppliers, system integrators, academia, government and security and IT departments at a variety of organisations in the United States and internationally. The 2020 winners of the Women in Biometrics Awards are: Jeni Best, Branch Chief, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Jeni Best has extensive programme management experience running large-scale programmes and working with external stakeholders, exemplified in her work on CBP’s Biometric Exit Program as well as in developing and implementing Automated Passport Control and Mobile Passport Control. Leading the CBP charge in implementing biometrics at airport touchpoints, Best has operationalised CBP biometric exit solutions at 27 U.S. airports and 2 international locations. Biometric mandate For much of 2019, she served as the acting director of biometric air exit operations at CBP Best contributed to the development of CBP’s exit roll-out strategy, which leverages stakeholder engagement and partnerships to achieve CBP’s biometric mandate. For much of 2019, she served as the acting director of biometric air exit operations at CBP – often referred to as “biometric boarding.” Best has over 20 years of experience with CBP and its predecessor agencies working on issues related to immigration, travel and tourism, business transformation initiatives and biometrics. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University. Records management systems Anne May, Biometric Support Centre Lead, Identity Operations Division, Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Anne May has 25 years of programme management experience in the public sector, including 17 years of experience with biometric technologies. She began her government career with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), where she was the programme manager for large-scale records management systems and also served as biometrics portfolio manager, overseeing budget and system business operations for the INS biometrics programme. Specialised biometric hardware Anne has excelled in her leadership and dedication filling multiple critical roles as an irreplaceable subject matter expert May has worked at US-VISIT since its inception in 2003, managing the implementation of multi-year, multi-agency projects and responsible for the deployment of specialised biometric hardware to over 550 border patrol and immigration enforcement field sites. After over a decade of service to the OBIM, Anne has excelled in her leadership and dedication filling multiple critical roles as an irreplaceable subject matter expert in the field of biometrics. Anne is the lead manager for the DHS 24/7 Biometric Support Centre, an integral piece of the identity mission for worldwide U.S. government missions. She has also applied her expertise in support of building the next-generation DHS biometric system, Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology. Face recognition evaluation Mei Ngan, Computer Scientist, Image Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Mei Ngan is a scientist in the NIST Image Group, which develops standards, measurement methods and best practices for biometric technologies, promoting accuracy and interoperability and the gold standard for biometric testing and evaluation worldwide. She is an accomplished computer scientist who has produced creative and outstanding work in the fields of face morphing detection, tattoo recognition and face recognition evaluation providing the needed science and framework to underpin the successful measurement and assessment of technologies for operational viability. Face morphing detection Ngan led the NIST project supporting the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity Janus programme Ngan is the project lead for the NIST Face Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT) MORPH programme – an ongoing project focused on evaluation of automated face morphing detection capabilities – and has become an integral part of the FRVT activities at NIST. In 2014, she launched the Tattoo Recognition Technology Program, the first NIST programme to provide a measurement and testing foundation to support the operational needs and applications for image-based tattoo recognition. Ngan has also led the NIST project supporting the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity Janus programme, targeting the development of advanced face recognition algorithms for unconstrained images. Terrorism detection capabilities Lauren Reed, Senior Program Director for Biometric Forensics, IDEMIA National Security Solutions (NSS) In her role at IDEMIA NSS, Lauren Reed leads the deployment of large-scale multimodal biometric systems to U.S. government foreign partners, enabling them to advance their crime and terrorism detection capabilities. She has been working in biometrics and forensics for more than 20 years; prior to joining IDEMIA NSS, she was the first woman to serve as director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory at the Defence Forensic Science Centre, which provides forensic and biometric laboratory services in seven scientific disciplines to the military criminal investigative agencies of U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) globally. Multi-modal biometric examination She was instrumental in standing up multi-modal biometric examination operations for the DOD Reed also previously served as the first chief of the Biometric Examination Services Branch for the Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency in Clarksburg, West Virginia, where she was instrumental in standing up multi-modal biometric examination operations for the DOD’s Automated Biometric Identification System with expansion of services to include face and iris in addition to fingerprints. In 2012, she received the FBI Director’s Award for Exceptional Public Service for leading a latent print sharing initiative between the DOD, FBI and DHS resulting in more than 500 identifications associated with terrorist and national security cases. Reed holds a Bachelor of Science from Washington State University, a Master of Forensic Science from National University and an executive MBA degree from Kennesaw State University. Seamless airport implementation Annet Steenbergen, Co-Founder, Aruba Happy Flow Project Annet Steenbergen is a visionary Dutch national who is well respected in the U.S. and internationally as the co-founder/initiator of the Aruba Happy Flow project for the government of Aruba, the first seamless airport implementation of its kind in the world, a single-token initiative that creates a seamless flow of passenger facilitation from curb to gate through the reuse of biometrics and advanced cooperation between the public and the private sector. Steenbergen took stakeholder cooperation to a new level between the governments of Aruba and the Netherlands, KLM Airlines, the Aruba Airport Authority and the biometric vendor to provide biometric-based security while substantially enhancing the passenger experience and creating room for expansion of Happy Flow to other airlines and countries. Seamless travel solutions She holds a master’s degree from Leiden University and has also studied at University College London She has more than 20 years of international experience working in the field of border control, border management and public-private cooperation at airports, previously holding roles with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service at Schipol Airport and at headquarters in the policy department for border management. Besides her work for the government of Aruba, Steenbergen is a consultant on passenger facilitation innovation with a strong focus on seamless travel solutions, where biometrics are used as a baseline for facilitation, security and GDPR-compliant privacy, or “privacy by design.” She holds a master’s degree from Leiden University and has also studied at University College London, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of the Witwatersrand. Enhancing cutting-edge fields “Each year, the Women in Biometrics Awards recognise the best and brightest talent helping to advance biometrics technologies, which are essential to securing identities today, and the achievements of these female industry leaders are improving processes like air travel, enhancing cutting-edge fields like facial recognition and working to keep people safe,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA applauds the 2020 honourees for their impressive dedication, innovation and leadership in this critical technology market and looks forward to honouring this outstanding group during SIA GovSummit.” Private industry technologists The 2020 class of Women in Biometrics Award winners astound me with their contributions to the security industry" “Once again, the 2020 class of Women in Biometrics Award winners astound me with their contributions to the security industry and society in general,” said Chris Corum, editor and publisher, SecureIDNews. “Their collective work keeps international borders secure, fights terrorism, aids law enforcement and makes our daily lives safer and more convenient.” SIA GovSummit – the annual government security conference hosted by SIA – brings together government security experts and private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education on security topics affecting federal, state and even local agencies. Facial recognition technology Attendees will hear keynote presentations from Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.); Brian Harrell, Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security at DHS’ Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Daryle Hernandez, Chief of the Interagency Security Committee within DHS CISA; and Kathleen McGuiness, Auditor of Accounts for the State of Delaware. Additionally, GovSummit 2020 will feature specialised sessions on cutting-edge topics such as emerging applications of facial recognition technology, trends in federal procurement of security products and services, drones and counter-UAS technology, fever detection and camera technology in pandemic recovery and using robotics in security operations.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) is now accepting applications for its new scholarship program, the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship program. This initiative, developed  by the SIA Women in Security Forum, which offers programs, professional development opportunities and networking events to support the involvement of women in the security industry, will offer multiple scholarships worth at least US$ 3,000 each to further educational opportunities for awardees and help them thrive in the industry. Women in Security Forum Scholarship program SIA created the Women in Security Forum Scholarship program to support SIA members’ professional development and educational goals. The funds may be used towards: Registration for SIA education or certification programs and/or conferences Registration for other industry education and certification programs or webinars Tuition for accredited trade, vocational or academic degree programs related to the security industry Repayment of student loan debt The SIA Women in Security Forum works to grow and retain leaders in the security industry" “The SIA Women in Security Forum works to grow and retain leaders in the security industry,” said Gloria Salmeron, Director of Human Resources at Brivo and Co-Chair of the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship Committee. Gloria adds, “With the addition of this new scholarship, we look forward to helping bring opportunities for further education and advancement to as wide a spectrum of people as possible and inviting individuals to participate in the Women in Security Forum.” SIA’s Women in Security Forum SIA’s Women in Security Forum works to engage all security professionals to promote, recruit and cultivate the leadership of women for a more inclusive and diversified industry. The forum’s key efforts and activities, in addition to the scholarship, include the SIA Progress Award, which celebrates individuals who advance opportunities and pave the way to success for women in the security industry. Women in Biometrics Awards It also includes a quarterly virtual education series, collaborative projects with other organisations that seek to empower women in the security and technology fields, sponsorship of the Women in Biometrics Awards, which recognises distinguished female leaders in the biometric identity and security industry, thought leadership opportunities, and engaging networking and professional growth events. The SIA Women in Security Forum is open to all employees of SIA member companies. The SIA Women in Security Forum is open to all employees of SIA member companies “The launch of the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship program is a key element of our career development program to foster a path to success for individuals currently working in the industry and students who may one day lead our industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. Criteria for SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship Each applicant for the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship must be either, 1) A SIA student member enrolled in an accredited trade, vocational or higher education academic degree program related to the security industry, or 2) A member of the SIA Women in Security Forum and an employee of a SIA member company with at least two years of professional experience in the security industry. Applications for the 2020 SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship must be submitted by Monday, June 15, 2020 with winners slated to be announced in late July 2020. SIA is accepting donations from SIA member companies and individual members to help support the SIA Women in Security Forum Scholarship program.

ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA), the membership associations for the security industry, have entered into a partnership to best aid in the COVID-19 recovery and rebuilding efforts of its diverse group of 34,000 member professionals and over 1,000 member companies respectively. The partnership will begin by addressing two primary areas of focus – business operations and advocacy – as well as content development and coordination. SIA will lead a team composed of representatives from SIA and ASIS government relations/affairs departments as well as ASIS’s digital strategy office. Business continuity and communications The primary responsibilities of this team will be to: Review and analyse rules pertaining to the final enactment of COVID-19 aid package(s) expected to be passed by Congress Review the supply chain and any changes in federal rules that may be needed Provide any information about preparedness grants to members ASIS will lead a team composed of representatives from SIA and ASIS learning, editorial, marketing and industry relations departments. The primary responsibility of this team is to develop and implement a coordinated approach to be a clearinghouse for information on COVID-19 and related knowledge and learning. This outreach will include virtual learning opportunities, so members can participate on their own schedules Providing members support in aspects such as health, well-being, business continuity and communications, this outreach will include virtual learning opportunities, so members can participate on their own schedules. In addition to these two primary objectives, other goals related to this partnership will include developing targeted collaborations with academia and aligned health care associations and evaluating the unique needs of small and medium-sized business members. Addressing the needs of security professionals “This collaboration between ASIS and SIA is a perfect example of putting the industry first to help suppliers and practitioners navigate through uncertain and unsettling times,” stated Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “Together we can help our members respond today to the far-reaching impact of COVID-19 and guide them with information and education that prepares our industry for a renewed future.” Moving forward, information and announcements related to this partnership will be posted jointly on the SIA and ASIS websites. “This partnership marks the security industry’s top associations coming together in an unprecedented way,” according to Peter O’Neil, CEO, ASIS International. “The COVID-19 crisis has provided a unique opportunity for us to create a paradigm shift to address the growing needs of security professionals both here in the US and across the globe. Our partnership reinforces the message that the security industry is stronger when it comes together.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected Efrain Pardo as the spring 2020 recipient of the Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship, a program presented in partnership with the Center for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin offering $5,000 scholarships for SIA members to help further their education in the field of identity management. This scholarship program – named after Hebert, President of Feenics Inc. and a past member of SIA’s Board of Directors who served as Chair from 2016 to 2018 – is designed to support the professional development goals of individual SIA members and student members who specialise in identity management – a field involving the systematic control of access, authenticating users, securing assets and protecting privacy. Identity management encompasses many aspects of risk management, public policy, fraud prevention, privacy, data analysis, risk and governance, information technology and security. Identity management expertise Pardo – a SIA student member who has a proven track record of experience in network and information security – serves as a flight operations implementation specialist at Horizon Air. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in networking and cybersecurity at Green River College and will use the scholarship funds to further his network and cyber security education. “SIA congratulates Efrain Pardo for being selected as the spring 2020 Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship winner and for his impressive accomplishments and dedication to helping to advance this foundational security space,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA is proud to help cultivate members’ identity management education and career development through this unique scholarship program; it is critical that we continue to build on our identity management expertise to better address identity threats, protect privacy, secure assets and foster innovation.”  Center for Identity Prior to his time at Horizon Air, Pardo held IT, research, sales, analyst and customer service roles with Prime Strategy, the Kline Group, Venues & Events – Global Travel, IDC and IBM. He holds a Master’s Degree in sales and IT from the United Kingdom’s University of Lincoln and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Information Systems from Monterrey Tech and is currently working toward certifications with the PM Institute and CompTIA. Applications are now open for the Fall 2020 Denis R. Hebert Identity Management ScholarshipThe Center for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin works closely with its public-private partners, including corporations, state and federal government agencies and law enforcement, to deliver innovations for consumers, businesses and government that help them to better protect people’s identities. Access and identity management As a critical component of its mission, the center conducts research to better understand how emerging technology such as biometrics affects consumers and organisations alike and how standards and expectations of privacy are evolving. Applications are now open for the Fall 2020 Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship. Each applicant must be either a SIA student member or a full-time employee of a SIA member company and have 1-5 years of professional experience in the security industry or a verified plan of study in the field of access and identity management. Scholarship funds must be used toward post-secondary education programs, including training courses, accredited college courses, certifications or other credentialing programs related to identity management.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named three leading experts from industry and government to join the list of high-profile keynote speakers and other security luminaries appearing at the 2020 ISC West as special guest speakers for key SIA events at the United States’ largest converged security trade show. ISC West 2020 will take place March 17-20 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. SIA’s The Advance On March 17 at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership gathering, attendees will hear featured remarks from William Wilkins, executive director of global security operations at Valero Energy Corporation. Wilkins’ presentation – “Lifelong Learning of a Global Security Officer: The One Lesson That Took Me the Longest to Learn” – will highlight the chief security officer framework and key lessons security professionals can learn from. In addition to Wilkins’ remarks, attendees at The Advance will review official association business, recognise outstanding volunteer achievements, exchange market intelligence and enjoy complimentary lunch and networking. SIA InteropFest & Cocktail Reception on March 18 will feature insights from special guest speaker Daryle Hernandez SIA InteropFest The SIA InteropFest & Cocktail Reception on March 18 will feature insights from special guest speaker Daryle Hernandez, chief of the Interagency Security Committee (ISC) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Infrastructure Security Division. SIA InteropFest, which showcases interoperability among physical security solutions leveraging SIA’s Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) technology standard, will also include technology interoperability demonstrations, examples of how integrators and security professionals implement SIA OSDP and free cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and networking. SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast On March 20 at the SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast, attendees will hear a presentation from Jaime Paris Boisvert, General Manager for Siemens Smart Infrastructure based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Attendees will also enjoy complimentary breakfast and top-tier networking with women in the industry and learn about SIA’s Women in Security Forum, an initiative to engage security professionals in promoting, recruiting and cultivating women’s leadership to promote a more inclusive and diversified industry. In addition to hearing from these experts at SIA’s events, ISC West attendees can hear top-quality keynote presentations from Charles Burns, Head of Security – New Mobility at Uber; Michael MacKenzie, General Manager of Amazon IoT connectivity and control at Amazon Web Services (AWS); and Brigadier General (retired) Christopher Fowler, Former Deputy Chief of Operations for the City of Seattle Police Department. Securing a connected future with IoT On Wednesday, March 18, in the presentation Scaling Enterprise Risk Management at the Speed of Global Transportation, Burns will explain how Uber navigates a challenging landscape by using technology to enable their business, secure company assets and ensure the safety of riders and drivers globally. 'The Threat from Within’ will address the threat of workplace violence involving current or former employees On Thursday, March 19, MacKenzie’s morning keynote address – On the Edge of Transformation: Securing a Connected Future With IoT – will explain how AWS IoT enables organisations to protect the evolving security-focused Internet of Things ecosystem, built on the rapidly progressing marketplace underscored by the convergence of our digital and physical worlds, in order to secure the connected world of tomorrow. ‘The Threat from Within’ Later that day, Fowler’s presentation – ‘The Threat from Within’ – will address the threat of workplace violence involving current or former employees, what we can do before incidents take place to help prevent them and how to optimise processes to address an event if it does happen. The ISC West keynote series is free and open to all attendees of the show. “Each year at ISC West, thousands of security professionals gather to explore the latest innovations in security technology, unlock top-quality networking and education and get actionable insights to help their businesses succeed,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO. 2020 SIA Education@ISC conference program Don adds, “SIA is thrilled to welcome Jaime Paris Boisvert, Daryle Hernandez and William Wilkins as the featured speakers for SIA’s key 2020 events at ISC West. These luminaries will be a valuable addition to the robust lineup of security industry leaders featured in the ISC West keynote presentations and the SIA Education@ISC conference program, and we look forward to their high-impact, informative presentations to SIA members and attendees.” ISC West and SIA are partnering to present the 2020 SIA Education@ISC conference program ISC West and SIA are partnering to present the 2020 SIA Education@ISC conference program, the top industry resource for vendor-agnostic security and network training. The 2020 SIA Education@ISC conference program  includes nearly 100 accredited sessions covering hot topics in connected security, unmanned systems, smart cities, loss prevention and supply chain and more. Countering global security threats The program is designed to provide the necessary knowledge security professionals require to prevent threats and make a real-world impact in an increasingly converged security landscape. ISC West attendees can purchase single-session passes or one-, two- or three-day packages for the SIA Education@ISC program to unlock critical information on the newest technologies in security. Register now to save $100 off the onsite conference registration rates. Additional SIA events at ISC West include the Market Leaders Reception – a cocktail and networking reception and the premier kickoff to the trade show on Tuesday, March 17 – and the SIA RISE Happy Hour at Topgolf Las Vegas, a lively outing for young security professionals and those new to the industry on Thursday, March 19. SIA will also unveil the winners of the 2020 SIA New Product Showcase Awards – the flagship awards program at ISC West honoring innovative security products, services and solutions – on Wednesday, March 18.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced details for the second annual AcceleRISE conference – an essential experience for tomorrow’s security leaders. AcceleRISE 2020 will be held July 29-31 at the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas. AcceleRISE – hosted by SIA’s RISE community for young security professionals and those new to the industry – was created to ignite new thinking, strengthen leadership and sharpen business acumen in young security talent. The conference features a diverse array of premier learning sessions, interactive workshops and fun activities geared toward rising stars in the industry. Dynamic and approachable speakers Austin will be the perfect backdrop for making connections, fostering ideas, inspiring creativity “SIA is thrilled to present the second annual AcceleRISE – an event that’s unlike your standard conference. At AcceleRISE it’s about dynamic and approachable speakers, unique sessions and activities to help young security talent take their careers to the next level and engaged attendees who are ready to make valuable connections and have fun,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “For this year’s event, we have selected a location that’s known for being different – Austin, Texas. Austin will be the perfect backdrop for making connections, fostering ideas, inspiring creativity and helping AcceleRISE attendees grow into stronger leaders and contributors at their organisations.” Insights on the leadership AcceleRISE 2020 attendees will leave with: Insights on the leadership and business skills needed to be more productive A unique understanding of the latest security trends and how they impact the industry Tools and guidance to help in accomplishing goals and forging a security career path Workshops on critical security topics SIA RISE is a collaborative community that fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry “AcceleRISE has addressed a gap in the security industry by helping young talent build meaningful connections, learn about emerging trends and discover fresh perspectives,” said Katie Greatti, Associate Director of Certification at SIA, Staff Liaison for the SIA RISE committee and Conference Manager for AcceleRISE. “For the 2020 event, SIA will offer attendees a mix of blended learning sessions including team-building exercises, keynotes, panel sessions, networking activities and workshops on critical security topics, business and career management and more.” Conference proposals are now being accepted for AcceleRISE 2020; SIA is seeking fresh ideas and speakers for this year’s event. Priority will be given to proposals that address critical topics like corporate social responsibility, cyber security, career progression, business management and leadership, security 101, finance, sales and marketing, networking, artificial intelligence and SaaS models. Vendor-neutral and educational Proposed content must be vendor-neutral and educational in nature and designed to contribute to the general knowledge base of the security industry. Proposals are due Wednesday, April 1. SIA RISE is a collaborative community that fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry. RISE is available to all employees of SIA member companies who are under 40 or who have been in the security industry for less than two years. RISE hosts fun in-person networking events during top trade shows and in major cities around the United States and offers career growth webinars on a variety of topics, thought leadership opportunities, career tracks at ISC West and East and a scholarship program for security industry education and professional development.

PSA, the internationally renowned security and systems integrator consortium, and the Security Industry Association (SIA), global trade association for global security solution providers, has announced CyberTEC powered by SIA, an exclusive cyber security track for PSA TEC 2020. CyberTEC will feature sessions on cyber-attack risk mitigation, cyber security managed services, cyber hygiene compliance and more. PSA TEC 2020 PSA also announced TEC 2020 keynote speaker Alec Ross, a New York Times best-selling author and former senior advisor for innovation with the U.S. Department of State. The keynote address will be presented by SIA and take place on Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 a.m. in the Plaza Ballroom. We are thrilled to work together with SIA in developing our cybersecurity education for PSA TEC 2020" “We are thrilled to work together with SIA in developing our cybersecurity education for PSA TEC 2020 and presenting Alec Ross as our keynote speaker,” said Anthony Berticelli, vice president of operations for PSA. “SIA’s team has invaluable connections in the industry, and partnering with them has raised the bar for the CyberTEC track. Likewise, the insight that Mr. Ross can provide will be thought provoking for all security industry professionals.” CyberTEC track Ross is one of America’s renowned experts on innovation, having worked with the US State Department during the Obama administration on goals of maximising the potential of technology and innovation in the service of America’s diplomatic goals. He advanced the State Department’s interests on a range of issues including internet freedom, cyber security, disaster response and the use of network technologies in conflict zones. Ross’ best-selling book, The Industries of the Future, explores the technological and economic trends and developments that will shape the next decade, from cyber security and big data to the commercialisation of genomics to the code-ification of money, markets and trust. Security and audio-visual markets event PSA TEC 2020 will be held April 20- 23 at the Sheraton Downtown in Denver, Colorado, and is the premier education and networking event for all professional systems integrators in the security and audio-visual markets. This year’s conference will feature over 125 education sessions, workshops and certification offerings from top industry experts and partner organisations categorised into dedicated learning tracks focused on job function. Attendees will leave TEC with ways to improve operational efficiencies and add additional value to their businesses The educational content includes sessions for systems integration professionals with a desire to stay relevant and thrive in changing markets through personal and professional development. Attendees will leave TEC with ways to improve operational efficiencies, add additional value to their businesses and their customers’ journeys and support emerging market trends from their own vantage points. A complete list of the sessions can be found here. Spreading awareness of cyber security “SIA and PSA have worked effectively together to improve the industry’s awareness of cyber security. The CyberTEC track powered by SIA reinforces the commitment both organisations have made to ensuring the industry has access to the training it needs to reduce cyber risk and open doors to new business opportunities,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “We’re also very happy to sponsor TEC keynote speaker Alec Ross; we believe his message perfectly captures the spirit of innovation that PSA operators and SIA members deliver in their businesses and security technology solutions.” SIA is the globally renowned trade association for global security solution providers, with over 1,000 innovative member companies representing thousands of security leaders and experts who shape the future of the security industry. PSA is the international systems integrator consortium made up of the most progressive security and audio-visual systems integrators in North America.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named ASSA ABLOY as the recipient of the 2020 Member of the Year Award, which honours SIA member companies that have shown noteworthy involvement in SIA committees and working groups, SIA events and the SIA Education@ISC conference programme; leadership activity; recruitment of SIA members; and contributions to SIA thought leadership and the industry overall. SIA will present ASSA ABLOY with the award at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, during ISC West. ASSA ABLOY – the global provider of access solutions – is a long-time SIA corporate member that takes an active role in participating in SIA’s array of programs, products and services and fully supports its employees’ involvement in SIA committees, working groups and advisory boards. The company is a regular sponsor of key SIA events, including the Market Leaders Reception at ISC West, SIA GovSummit and Securing New Ground. On-demand training courses SIA is proud to honour ASSA ABLOY as the 2020 SIA Member of the Year and applauds the company for its invaluable engagement “SIA is proud to honour ASSA ABLOY as the 2020 SIA Member of the Year and applauds the company for its invaluable engagement, thought leadership efforts and contributions to SIA, our members and the security industry overall,” said Scott Schafer, Chairman of the SIA Board of Directors. “Thanks in large part to the outstanding support of members like ASSA ABLOY, SIA is able to continue building on its robust suite of resources, programming and education and training offerings to better serve our members and the industry.” ASSA ABLOY is a contributing member to the SIA Center of Excellence, SIA’s online repository of vendor-neutral, vetted information – including on-demand training courses, e-learning modules, articles and webinars – to foster industry knowledge and help organisations keep at the forefront of market demands. Significant resources and services Additionally, the company has contributed content to SIA Technology Insights, SIA’s journal distilling the most current thinking for applying today’s security technologies and moderated webinars in partnership with SIA and Security Systems News, and ASSA ABLOY executives have spoken at SIA events including Securing New Ground. “ASSA ABLOY is honoured to receive SIA’s Member of the Year Award. Since serving on the SIA Board of Directors, my eyes have been opened to the significant resources and services provided by the SIA management team and staff under the leadership of Don Erickson and Scott Schafer,” said Martin Huddart, Head of Smart Residential for ASSA ABLOY. Vast network of member volunteers The Advance will take place during ISC West 2020 on Tuesday, March 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m" “I have also been impressed by the vast network of member volunteers who work on important committees and support SIA events – I think this is a reflection of the relevance and vitality of this trade association. I’d like to thank not only the ASSA ABLOY volunteers that led to this recognition, but all SIA members who contribute their time to the advancement of security in the workplace and in our homes. We shouldn’t forget that our collective impact makes a real difference in the world.”  The Advance will take place during ISC West 2020 on Tuesday, March 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Exchange market intelligence In addition to the presentation of the SIA Member of the Year Award, attendees will enjoy a high-impact presentation from William Wilkins, Executive Director of Global Security Operations at Valero Energy Corporation, on the Chief Security Officer framework and key lessons for security professionals. SIA will also review key association business, exchange market intelligence for the year ahead and present the SIA Chairman’s Award, Committee Chair of the Year Award and Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award. Attendees of The Advance will receive complimentary lunch and have the opportunity to network with industry colleagues.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected Kathleen Carroll as the 2020 recipient of the SIA Committee Chair of the Year Award, which recognises individuals for excellence in SIA committees and advancing member objectives. SIA will present Carroll with the honour at The Advance, SIA’s annual membership meeting, during ISC West. Carroll chairs the SIA Data Privacy Advisory Board and is the founder and managing partner of Seven Seas Strategic Communications, a full-service public relations and government affairs firm offering strategic planning, writing, media relations and event planning. With more than 30 years of experience, she has worked with companies in diverse industries, designing public relations and government affairs programs and strategies that help build business and garner attention and support for clients’ key goals and objectives. Internet of Things She previously served as vice president of corporate communications for HID Global, overseeing the development and implementation of public relations and government affairs programs. She has testified before Congress on a range of topics, including the use of secure identification documents in airports, and has testified in several states on the use of secure credentials for physical and logical access control, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things and privacy. I am also grateful to SIA for recognising early on that privacy and security should be complementary" “I am honoured to be recognised as Chairperson of the Year. The Data Privacy Advisory Board members have made it easy to chair this committee, and I thank them for their commitment, dedication and active participation,” said Carroll. “I am also grateful to SIA for recognising early on that privacy and security should be complementary. As important has been the support that the advisory board has received from Ron Hawkins and the rest of the SIA staff. Educating and informing the security industry about data privacy motivates me daily, and chairing the Data Privacy Advisory Board allows me to work with like-minded leaders in the industry to spread the word. Privacy matters.” Mitigating risk of data breaches SIA’s Data Privacy Advisory Board provides information and best practices to help SIA members handle sensitive data in a safe and secure manner to protect the personally identifiable information of their employees, partners and customers from potential breaches. The board leverages the collective expertise of industry professionals, law enforcement, security practitioners and data privacy experts to inform and educate SIA member companies about methods for mitigating the risk of data breaches. As chair of the Data Privacy Advisory Board, Carroll has spearheaded a number of notable efforts, including outreach to key integrators, office visits to members of Congress, the development of the Data Privacy Microlearning Series, a self-paced online course exploring key privacy issues, regulations and risks, and the creation of a data privacy primer for the security industry and several additional data privacy resources, including guidance documents to help firms navigate the business impact of the California Consumer Privacy Act and Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation. Additionally, Carroll authored an opinion letter on the need for a federal privacy law that was published in the New York Times. ISC West 2020 Kathleen’s leadership has helped position SIA as a thought leader on this critical issue" “During her time as advisory board chair, Kathleen Carroll has increased awareness of data privacy issues throughout the security industry,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO. “Kathleen’s leadership has helped position SIA as a thought leader on this critical issue, and we look forward to recognising her for her outstanding achievements at The Advance this year.” The Advance will take place during ISC West 2020 on Tuesday, March 17, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Sands Convention Centre in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the presentation of the Committee Chair of the Year Award, attendees will enjoy a high-impact presentation from William Wilkins, executive director of global security operations at Valero Energy Corporation, on the chief security officer framework and key lessons for security professionals. SIA will also review key association business, exchange market intelligence for the year ahead and present the SIA Chairman’s Award, Member of the Year Award and Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award. Attendees of The Advance will receive complimentary lunch and have the opportunity to network with industry colleagues. Learn more and register to attend.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced that – as part of its efforts to build presence and relationships internationally on issues related to perimeter security – it will partner with the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association (PSSA) to produce a two-day InterAct workshop. SIA CEO Don Erickson will lead a contingent of SIA members, representatives from U.S. government agencies and researchers to join with the United Kingdom-based PSSA in hosting this workshop Jan. 29-30 in Birmingham, England. Hostile vehicle mitigation, blast protection On Wednesday, Jan. 29, presenters from the UK will address topics including hostile vehicle mitigation, blast protection and international trade opportunities. The event is SIA’s initiative to foster international cooperation and addresses the threat of vehicle-based attacks On Thursday, Jan. 30, presenters from the United States will address topics including the size and composition of the American barrier market, IWA versus ASTM test standards, the requirements of the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act (SAFETY Act) for offshore manufacturers and anti-terrorist measures on government campuses. Two-day InterAct workshop “This collaborative event is part of SIA’s initiatives to foster international cooperation and addresses the serious threat of vehicle-based attacks,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO. He adds, “The idea for this event was surfaced during our October 2019 Capitol Hill Symposium on Vehicular Terrorism, so my thanks to Paul Jeffrey, chairman of the PSSA, and Rob Reiter, chairman of SIA’s Perimeter Security Subcommittee, for their many months of work to help develop this partnership event.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has selected five recipients for the 2020 SIA RISE Scholarship, a program offered through SIA’s RISE community of young security professionals that supports the education and career development goals of young industry talent. Through this scholarship program – open to SIA student members and RISE members who are employees at SIA member companies – each awardee will receive a $3,000 scholarship to use toward continuing education and professional development courses, SIA program offerings and/or other academic or education programs. SIA RISE community and scholarship Scholarship funds can be used to expand knowledge in the areas of business, human resources, information technology, marketing/sales, project management, security engineering and/or risk management. SIA is proud to help foster the careers of young talent in the industry through SIA RISE community and scholarship" “SIA is proud to help foster the careers of young talent in the security industry through the SIA RISE community and scholarship,” said Don Erickson, CEO of SIA. “This year’s scholarship honorees are an impressive group of dedicated, accomplished young professionals that represent the next generation of security leaders, and I look forward to supporting their professional growth and celebrating their many successes ahead.” Robust security program The winners for the 2020 SIA RISE Scholarship are: Dr. Hanna Farah, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Feenics In his role as CTO at Feenics, Hanna Farah is responsible for creating a security and access control platform and developing quality and security processes. Prior to his time at Feenics, Farah has held positions at Deloitte, Graphite Software, the University of Ottawa, Electronic Health Information Laboratory and IBM. He holds a Ph.D., a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from the University of Ottawa. Farah plans to use the SIA RISE Scholarship to develop further knowledge to build a robust security program at Feenics that ensures the company’s practice and products adhere to high security standards, including acquiring expertise and certifications such as the Certified Cloud Security Professional credential. Integrated security system Kyle Gansemer, Systems Designer, VTI Security At VTI Security, Kyle Gansemer is responsible for integrated security system design and review of system functionality to determine proper operation of access control, IP video and other security systems and controls. Prior to his time at VTI Security, he served as a design/manufacturing engineer at Optical Mechanics Incorporated. Gansemer holds a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Iowa State University and CompTIA’s Security+ and Network+ credentials. He plans to use the scholarship funds to expand his cyber security expertise through completing courses related to cloud services, ethical hacking/defenses and systems analysis. Data integration Suzanne Holmberg, Data & Analytics Manager – EMEIA & APAC, Allegion Suzanne is responsible for creating teams in Europe and Asia to deliver on data integration and data science projectsIn her role at Allegion, Suzanne Holmberg is responsible for creating new teams in Europe and Asia to deliver on data integration, analysis and data science projects. Prior to her current role, Holmberg served as global analytics manager, analytics leader and sales business analyst at Allegion and held sales operations and marketing positions at Belden, Inc. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina and is currently enrolled in the Global Executive MBA program at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Holmberg will use the scholarship funds toward completion of the MBA program, which brings working professionals from around the globe together and grows individuals beyond their comfort zones through international residencies that emphasise how culture and institutions shape business in Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America. Research and development Nelson Jenkins, Mechanical Engineer, Allegion Nelson Jenkins is a design engineer with diverse experience across project lifecycle, including research and development, manufacturing and product leadership. At Allegion, he has started a grassroots organisation to help promote a culture of innovation at the company. Prior to his role as product designer at Allegion, Jenkins served as design strategist consultant at Zeren Fitness and as a researcher with Carnegie Mellon University’s CSSI program; he holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in applied physics from Morehouse College. He will use the scholarship funds to complete a course on disruptive theory offered through Harvard Business School. Executing marketing techniques Jessica Sargo, Channel Marketing Manager, Brivo SIA’s RISE community fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry through fun, in-person networking events In her role at Brivo, Jessica Sargo leads efforts for a cross-departmental partner training program, supports partner recruitment and retention campaigns, develops web and mobile applications for partner conferences, creates communications plans and manages logistics for trade shows and partner events. Prior to her time at Brivo, she held marketing positions with TwentyEighty Strategy Execution and Teaching Strategies, LLC; she holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida. Sargo plans to use the scholarship funds to complete a digital marketing education course and further her knowledge of executing marketing techniques through social media, mobile applications, search engines and other digital channels. Business skills development In addition to awarding the RISE Scholarship, SIA’s RISE community fosters the careers of young professionals in the security industry through fun, in-person networking events held during top trade shows and in major cities across the country; thought leadership opportunities; career growth webinars on topics of interest; career tracks at ISC West and East each year; and the AcceleRISE conference for tomorrow’s security leaders, featuring top-quality idea sharing, coaching, business skills development, networking and inspiration. SIA RISE is open to all young security professionals employed at SIA member companies who are under 40 and/or have been in the security for less than two years.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) is now accepting applications for the Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship. This program, presented in partnership with the Center for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin, will offer two $5,000 scholarships for SIA members to help further their education in the field of identity management. The scholarship was named after Hebert, a member of SIA’s Board of Directors and immediate past chairman of the board, serving as chair from 2016 to 2018. Hebert also serves as president of Feenics Inc. Identity management solutions Identity management encompasses many aspects of risk management, fraud prevention and security “I am thrilled and honored to be affiliated with this special SIA scholarship program,” said Hebert. “Identity management is a foundational security component that helps mitigate current and future identity threats, protect the privacy of individuals and enterprises and secure critical assets – it is essential that we continue building on our knowledge of this field and promote innovation and advancement in the creation, convergence and use of identity management security solutions.” SIA created the Denis R. Hebert Scholarship program to support the professional development goals of individual SIA members who specialise in identity management – a field involving the systematic control of access, authenticating users, securing assets and protecting privacy. Identity management encompasses many aspects of risk management, public policy, fraud prevention, privacy, data analysis, risk and governance, information technology and security. Security industry “We are grateful for Denis’ leadership in the security industry and applaud the impact he has had on SIA’s service to our members in the area of identity management, including through the development of many high-quality education, government relations and standards offerings,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA is proud to help students and security professionals grow in their careers in this critical field and looks forward to recognising two honorees with the 2020 Hebert Scholarship.” The Center for Identity at the University of Texas at Austin works closely with its public-private partners, including corporations, state and federal government agencies and law enforcement, to deliver innovations for consumers, businesses and government that help them to better protect people’s identities. As a critical component of its mission, the center conducts research to better understand how emerging technology such as biometrics affects consumers and organisations alike and how standards and expectations of privacy are evolving. Securing identity information A qualified workforce is fundamental to address the diverse challenges in securing identity information" “The Center for Identity recognises that the success of an organisation’s identity management and security policy and practices depends in large part on the personnel tasked with implementing them. A well-qualified workforce is fundamental to addressing the complex and diverse challenges in securing sensitive identity information and protecting consumer privacy, while harnessing the power of data for good,” said Dr. Suzanne Barber, director of the Center for Identity. “The Center for Identity at the University of Texas has partnered with the School of Information to create a unique, interdisciplinary education and training program in information security to address this need and is proud to partner with the Security Industry Association to help promote development and professional growth in this critical field.” Access and identity management Each applicant must be either a SIA student member or a full-time employee of a SIA member company and have 1-5 years of professional experience in the security industry or a verified plan of study in the field of access and identity management. Scholarship funds must be used toward post-secondary education programs, including training courses, accredited college courses, certifications or other credentialing programs related to identity management. The 2020 application deadline for the Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship is Feb. 29, and awardees will be announced on March 17 at The Advance, held concurrently with ISC West 2020.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) commends members of the administration and the U.S. House of Representatives for their bipartisan leadership in passing the much-anticipated United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The USMCA, the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), acknowledges thoughtful and necessary changes that will create a fair-trade landscape while upholding pro-business principles in removing unnecessary trade barriers. The trilateral trade agreement will benefit the North American security industry immensely, open new opportunities to stimulate job growth and expand business operations into existing and emerging markets. Curb IP theft and copyright infringements USMCA will benefit the security industry by enabling our members to invest in new opportunities abroad Specifically, U.S. companies seeking to expand operations into Mexico or Canada can rely on robust intellectual property (IP) protections that curb IP theft and copyright infringements; removal of data localisation requirements which forced U.S. companies to store collected data in the host country versus the United States; and efficient procurement policies that streamline and digitise communications, acquisition timelines and important transactional information. In September 2019, SIA was proud to join with the Latin American Security Association (ALAS) and the Canadian Security Association (CANASA) in publishing a joint statement supporting the ratification of USMCA. SIA, ALAS and CANASA, the leading representation of the security industry in North America, collectively represent more than 2,500 companies with business operations located in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Ratifying USMCA “USMCA will benefit the security industry immensely by enabling our members to invest in new opportunities abroad,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Companies have navigated through the digital economy for years, and USMCA’s predecessor, NAFTA, required significant reforms to reflect such a seismic shift. USMCA creates a more open trade landscape by upgrading out-of-date trade policies and removing barriers to entry.” SIA encourages the Senate to act swiftly and ratify USMCA before submitting it to President Trump for his final approval.

The Security Industry Association (SIA), the trade association representing more than 1,000 companies and organisations developing and delivering security solutions, thanks the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for its thoughtful and diligent work producing a report evaluating the performance of current facial recognition technology across demographic groups. Facial recognition is a fast-advancing technology in a constant cycle of improvements and is widely adopted across the public and private sectors. Reports from non-biased organisations like NIST are immensely valuable. SIA commends NIST for encouraging research organisations to examine this issue comprehensively, rather than publish incomplete research in order to generate attention. Benefits for homeland security Demographic differentials are lessening due to high-performing algorithms producing fewer errors Facial recognition solutions offer tremendous benefits for homeland security and public safety applications, and the clear advantages of this technology necessitate that steady improvements be made and documented to ensure that the public can trust this technology’s public benefits. The NIST report found that demographic differentials are lessening due to many of the high-performing algorithms producing fewer errors. The report also emphasised that many facial recognition use scenarios require trained humans to remain integral to the process. Whether in an investigation of a potential crime or identifying an individual at a port of entry, SIA believes trained personnel are critical to the successful deployment of this technology. Facial recognition processing algorithms In light of the NIST report, SIA encourages its members and all facial recognition technology companies to strive to eliminate bias from within facial recognition processing algorithms, and SIA encourages such firms to enlist diverse data sets when testing their algorithms. “The NIST study provides clear data that can help shape advances in facial recognition,” said Don Erickson, CEO of SIA. “SIA encourages collaborative efforts by member companies and involving key stakeholders with the goal of improving facial recognition algorithms and eliminating significant accuracy variation or potential bias. Our members look forward to a strong continued working relationship with NIST and its scientists as these technologies improve and go even further in protecting human lives.”

The Security Industry Association (SIA) announces the 2019 keynote and featured speakers for Securing New Ground (SNG), the security industry’s annual executive conference taking place at the Grand Hyatt New York in Manhattan October 29-30. SNG 2019 will feature keynote remarks from Dr. Steven T. Hunt, chief expert for work and technology at SAP; George Oliver, chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls; and Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). Significant security risks and threats SNG gathers the brightest minds in the security industry and offers a carefully curated program" Additionally, the 2019 conference will include featured presentations from Steve Jones, CEO of Allied Universal, and Brian Tuskan, senior director and chief security officer (CSO) at Microsoft Global Security; and a panel of CSOs and senior security executives from major industries and public safety highlighting significant security risks and threats and how executives mitigate them. “Each year, SNG gathers the brightest minds in the security industry and offers a carefully curated program that inspires these leaders about the potential of the global security industry,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “We are thrilled that these top security luminaries from some of the nation’s leading companies will be joining us at SNG 2019 and look forward to diving deep into the most critical industry trends.” Innovative workforce management methods In the conference’s opening keynote presentation, The Human Side of Security, Hunt will explore the impact of integrating security methods into workforce management systems. This session will examine the interaction between security risks, employee psychology, workforce management and information technology and illustrate how physical and information security risks can be mitigated through the use of innovative workforce management methods and technologies. Additionally, attendees will enjoy a keynote-style executive interview featuring Oliver and hosted by SIA Chairman Scott Schafer. This conversation will highlight major industry trends and market drivers and share insights into how one of the security solutions firms — delivering both security technology products and security integration services — is navigating evolutions in technology, business models and customer needs. Managing corporate risk Jones will explore how the business of security is evolving during the session No Off Season In the presentation Consumer Trends Destined to Shape the World, Shapiro will showcase what trends in innovation and consumer preferences are poised to shape the globe and your business. Shapiro is president and CEO of the CTA, the U.S. trade association representing more than 2,200 consumer technology companies and which owns and produces the CES show. In an interview-style session format, Jones will explore how the business of security is evolving during the session No Off Season: Managing Corporate Risk in an Era of Uncertainty. Jones – who, in addition to his role at Allied Universal, authored the book No Off Season – will share insights into what corporate leaders are seeking from security teams and how he has applied leadership lessons to grow his firm while remaining focused on the ultimate goal: managing his clients’ risk and protecting their reputations. Providing end-to-end enterprise security In the session Defining the Future of Security, Tuskan will share his vision on technology, strategy and where the security industry is headed. As CSO for one of technology firms and with a global footprint, Tuskan has a view of security that serves as not only a vision, but also a great example of how strategy and technology can work together. SNG attendees will enjoy Expecting the Unexpected: Security Leaders Speak!, a dynamic panel discussion Tuskan will also discuss the importance of having a strong relationship with the chief information security officer in providing end-to-end enterprise security. Additionally, SNG attendees will enjoy Expecting the Unexpected: Security Leaders Speak!, a dynamic panel discussion featuring Karen Frank, director of global security at Pratt & Whitney; Brad Hegrat, security principal director at Accenture; Andrea Schultz, director of strategic security programs and policy at the National Football League; Trisha Stein, director of administrative operations at the Detroit Police Department; and moderator Pierre Trapanese, CEO of Northland Controls. Small business security These CSOs and senior security executives from major industries and public safety will share perspectives on the significant security risks and threats in their sectors and how they’re mitigating those concerns while keeping an eye on future risks. Other highlights of SNG 2019 will include discussions on the future of consumer and small business security, what politics and policy mean for security businesses, investment insights for the security industry and managing corporate risk; topic-focused thought leadership roundtables; and a lively networking reception. SNG 2019 will be held at the Grand Hyatt New York, and attendees will be offered a special discounted rate at the hotel; the room block will close on Friday, October 11.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named George W. Anderson as the 2019 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award, an honour recognising excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions. Anderson – who retired from the New York Police Department (NYPD) in 2011 after 30 years of service – is the director of World Trade Center security for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and serves as chair of the Private Sector Liaison Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). SIA will present the award to Anderson during SIA Honors Night on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in New York City. SIA Insightful Practitioner Award I am honoured to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award" “I am honoured and beyond thrilled to have been chosen as this year’s recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award; the most important element of the award to me is the focus on teamwork,” said Anderson. “Although I am the recipient, the award really recognises all of the teams I have been a part of over my 37 years in both the public and private sector. The challenges we face cannot be addressed alone—partnership and collaboration are the keys to success, and I am proud to be part of a profession and an industry that places so much value on those principles.” During his career with the NYPD, Anderson rose to the position of assistant chief in the department’s Patrol Services Bureau, spent five years overseeing the Police Academy and also served as executive officer of the department’s Personnel Bureau. Before assuming his current role in 2015, he served as vice president of operations – Manhattan for Allied Barton Security Services, now part of Allied Universal, one of the largest private security services company in North America. Innovative security solutions “SIA is proud to announce George Anderson as the 2019 recipient of the SIA Insightful Practitioner Award for his strategic, innovative thinking and use of technology to secure one of the most prominent urban developments in the world,” said Don Erickson, SIA CEO. He adds, “We commend George for his valuable efforts in bringing law enforcement, the security industry and other stakeholders together to forge public-private partnerships that enhance public safety through his volunteer work with the IACP; his knowledge about and commitment to public safety and security; and his effective and productive leadership.” SIA Insightful Practitioner Award SIA’s Insightful Practitioner Award is presented annually to a security practitioner who demonstrates leadership and excellence in promoting the implementation of innovative security solutions through education, advocacy and teamwork with the security industry and other stakeholders. SIA Honors Night, held each year concurrently with ISC East, renowned global security trade show – features a gala dinner reception, an awards ceremony recognising industry leaders and engaging entertainment. Along with presenting the Insightful Practitioner Award, SIA will also honour industry leaders at the 2019 Honors Night with the George R. Lippert Memorial Award and the SIA Progress Award sponsored by SIA’s Women in Security Forum.

The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.) as the 2019 recipients of the SIA Legislator of the Year Award. The awardees will be honoured at the upcoming SIA GovSummit, taking place June 26-27 in Washington, D.C. The SIA Legislator of the Year Award is presented annually to members of Congress and other elected officials who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing legislation and policies that encourage the effective use of technology solutions to enhance public safety and security and protect critical infrastructure. Recognition for promoting workforce development Sen. Fischer recently recognised SIA, along with SIA member companies Intel and VMware, as supporters of the DIGIT ActWith this award, Sen. Klobuchar will be recognised for her leadership on workforce development and life safety issues important to the security industry and its mission. In 2019, Klobuchar authored S.379, a bill that would allow workers to use “529” education savings accounts for training and credentialing programs, and S. 481 – the Nicholas and Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act – which would provide grant assistance for the purchase and installation of carbon monoxide detectors in dwelling units of low-income families and elderly persons, child care facilities, public schools and student housing owned by public universities. Sen. Fischer authored bipartisan legislation that would convene a working group of federal entities and private-sector stakeholders tasked with providing recommendations to Congress on how to facilitate the growth of connected Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. S. 1611, also known as the Developing and Growing the Internet of Things (DIGIT) Act, calls for the United States to craft a national strategy to position the United States as the global leader in IoT technologies. Sen. Fischer recently recognised SIA, along with SIA member companies Intel and VMware, as supporters of the DIGIT Act. Installing vehicular barriers to mitigate attacks Rep. Payne, who serves as chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery, recently introduced H.R. 2160 – the Shielding Public Spaces From Vehicular Terrorism Act – which would help communities leverage homeland security grants to install vehicular barriers and implement other protective measures and direct research and development efforts on the emerging threats from vehicular attacks. Rep. Payne recently introduced H.R. 2160 – the Shielding Public Spaces From Vehicular Terrorism Act Payne also crafted H.R. 6920, the School Security Is Homeland Security Grant Act, which clarified allowable uses, requires a percentage of homeland security grants to be used for enhanced school security measures and increases overall authorisation for the grants. Enhancing perimeter and school security “SIA’s policy priorities include notable measures that help increase safety and security across many sectors, including the critical areas of perimeter security and school security, while helping the industry to stay ahead of megatrends such as the proliferation of IoT and the recruitment and retention of qualified workers,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA applauds Sen. Klobuchar’s work to promote the 21st-century technology workforce essential to our industry, Sen. Fischer’s leadership in recognising the security industry’s role in fostering IoT growth, and Rep. Payne’s contributions to mitigating the threat of vehicular attacks and protecting students, staff, faculty and visitors in our nation’s schools.” Session on physical access control systems SIA GovSummit – the annual government security conference hosted by SIA – brings together government security leaders and private industry technologists for top-quality information sharing and education on security topics affecting federal, state and even local agencies. Attendees will find specialised sessions on topics such as modernising federal physical access control systems Attendees will find specialised sessions on topics such as modernising federal physical access control systems, the U.S. Department of Defense’s unified facilities criteria for security systems, facial recognition technology use for public safety and homeland security missions and helping communities protect religious institutions, crowded spaces and other soft targets. SIA GovSummit is free for all government employees, including federal, state, county and municipal-level staff (both domestic and international), plus all military, law enforcement and public safety representatives. Sponsors of the event This event is made possible thanks to the following sponsors and partners: Premier Sponsors LenelS2, HID Global, Tyco Security Products and Allegion; Event Sponsors AMAG Technology, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, Axis Communications, B&B Roadway Security Solutions, Calpipe Security Bollards, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, dormakaba, Gallagher, Genetec, Gibraltar, GSA Schedules, Inc., Hanwha Techwin America, HySecurity, IDEMIA, Identiv, ISC Security Events, Louroe Electronics, Marshalls, Milestone Systems, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, NetApp, Panasonic, the Secure Worker Access Consortium and TCP Security Solutions.

ISC West, the largest converged security and public safety trade show in the Americas, concluded its 2019 event in Las Vegas this past Friday. ISC West, in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA), experienced overwhelming success with over 950 exhibitors and brands, including 200 new for 2019, plus over 30,000 industry professionals, 85+ SIA Education@ISC sessions, 20+ special events and networking opportunities and more. Reflecting the market trend and urgency for increased collaboration between cross-functional teams and partners, a notable element of ISC West 2019 was the strong mix of end-user security and public safety decision makers, in addition to highly-influential security integrators-dealers-and-installers. As cyber/IT, operational technology and physical security technologies and processes continue to converge, the audience profile at ISC West is mirroring and simulating these industry trends.  Addressing converged security operations We were pleased to feature even more education sessions and training to specifically address converged security operations"“The lines between physical security and cyber security are continuing to blend, and so are team dynamics. Organisational readiness and structures were key trends this year, and we were pleased to feature even more education sessions and training to specifically address converged security operations, balanced with core public safety topics,” said Will Wise, Group Vice President, Security Portfolio, Reed Exhibitions. Amid its featured exhibits, including Unmanned Security Expo, Connected Security Expo, Public Security & Safety Expo, Connected Home Pavilion and the Emerging Technology Zone, the event saw impressive new solutions growth, particularly with the Emerging Technology Zone (startups) and Connected Security Expo, where exhibit space grew by 47% and 15% this year, respectively. Education sessions at ISC West Comments from the Expo Floor highlighted this year’s event as “…more than just a ‘great show’, many say our best experience to date!” said Tim Shockley, Associate Director of Marketing at Digital Watchdog, while Ben Levinson of Securexperts who has “…attended over 40 conferences, [has] ranked this one as one of the best.” ISC West delivered on the key elements that will have a positive impact on the marketplace"Among its wide variety of education sessions, some of the most highly-attended sessions included Next Generation Security: The Truths, The Myths, The Future of Fusion Centers and Security Operations; The Convergence of Cyber and Physical Security – a Shared Responsibility, Perimeter Security Best Practices for Protecting Critical Infrastructure Resources, in addition to the Active Shooter Workshop and ISC West Keynote Series Sessions featuring William N. Bryan, Acting Under Secretary for DHS Science and Technology Directorate; Russ Butler, Vice President of Security, San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium and Honorary Speaker Juliette Kayyem, Former Assistant Secretary for International Affairs to President Barack Obama at the first-ever SIA Women in Security Forum Breakfast at ISC West. Hands-on workshops and learning sessions “At ISC West, we are thrilled to offer attendees an unparalleled event experience,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “From engaging keynote presentations and hands-on workshops and learning sessions found through the SIA Education@ISC conference program, to the innovation celebrated through the preeminent SIA New Product Showcase program, and exceptional networking opportunities, ISC West clearly delivered on the key elements that will have a positive impact on the marketplace and contribute to future success for thousands of attendees.” Up next for the ISC Security Events portfolio is the Expo Seguridad event in Mexico City on May 7-9, 2019; ISC Brasil in São Paulo on June 25-27, 2019; Cyber:Secured Forum in Dallas on July 29-31, 2019; and ISC East in New York City on November 20-21, 2019 (co-located with Infosecurity ISACA North America).

Arcules, the innovator of integrated video and access control cloud services, announces that it continues to add to its achievements by being selected as a winner in a variety of prestigious industry award programs. Its integrated cloud-based video service has been recognised for bringing significant value and intelligence to integrators, facility managers and end users across a number of applications. Arcules was selected as the 2019 Security Industry Association (SIA) New Product Showcase winner in the Cloud Solutions category for its Integrated Cloud Video Service during ISC West, the nation’s largest converged security trade show. Since its inception in 1979, the SIA New Product Showcase has been the security industry’s premier awards-based marketing program. Highly competitive program The Arcules Integrated Video Cloud Service combines untapped video and sensor data with the latest technologies in cloud and artificial intelligence to deliver actionable business and security intelligence for modern organisations. The cloud-based service is designed to ensure security, scalability, streamlined operations and bandwidth management — all from a single, easy-to-use interface. SIA’s New Product Showcase calls security companies to develop extraordinary, innovative products and solutions" “SIA’s New Product Showcase calls security companies to develop extraordinary, innovative products and solutions, and this year’s winners represent the best new offerings in the market,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “SIA congratulates Arcules for standing out among the entries in this highly competitive program to earn the Cloud Solutions New Product Showcase distinction.” Automatic software updates Arcules was also recently named as one of BUILDINGS Magazine's 2019 Money-Saving Products winners. Finalists were evaluated by the editorial staff for the money-saving qualities they offer to building owners and facility managers. The Arcules service reduces the burden and cost of system management, providing automatic software updates, maximising system uptime and ensuring the most up-to-date version is available to users through the cloud-based interface. “Arcules continues to receive growing attention for our cloud-based services that encompass both video and access control, and we are honoured to be recognised with these awards,” said Andreas Pettersson, CEO, Arcules. “This demonstrates the shift that the industry is seeing toward intuitive, agile and unified solutions that have the ability to harness the potential of the cloud for a number of applications. Arcules aims to be at the forefront of development in this space, and we welcome the chance to highlight these achievements across the security and IT industries.”