ISC West combines the familiar with the unexpected

For attendees at ISC West in Las Vegas, the show each year brings together elements that are comfortably familiar with elements that are brand new, even unexpected. The U.S. security marketplace’s largest yearly gathering is an unrivalled forum for new product introductions, and the exhibition sets the stage for much that happens in the market throughout the rest of the year.

The ISC West exhibit hall at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas will be open April 15-17, and education sessions will be April 14-16. Each year, ISC West hosts more than 1,000 international and domestic security product manufacturer companies and more than 26,000 security professionals. The event is sponsored by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and presented by Reed Exhibitions.

IDIS Debut

Some exhibitors have been dependably a part of the show for decades, others will appear for the first time. Among the new exhibitors this year is Korean video provider IDIS, which is debuting in the U.S. market at ISC West with a bang as one of the top 10 booths (in size) in its first appearance.

It's All In The Booth

Booths at ISC West provide a yearly physical manifestation of the fates of corporate players in the market – booth sizes often grow (and shrink) in step with a company’s successes (and failures). As the industry consolidates, smaller players are absorbed into larger ones (and their booths combined), and some larger players change ownership. It’s all reflected in the colourful logos and high-definition images that compete for the attention of visitors strolling through the aisles.

Standards Do Matter

And ISC West is not just about products. Standards will have a high profile this year as several organisations (specifically ONVIF, PSIA, and SIA) demonstrate the value of standards and drum up interest in their activities. ONVIF will demonstrate its interoperability specs, and visitors can take the "Quick-Install Challenge (Profile Q)” at the ONVIF booth. SIA will highlight its Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) at a plugfest and reception. The PSIA Interoperability Demo will highlight the capabilities of PSIA’s new Physical-Logical Access Interoperability (PLAI) standard.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity will have a higher profile this year, with PSA Security Network providing a focus on how physical security integrators can protect their systems from cyber-attack. The PSA TEC track at ISC West features a full day (April 14) of training sessions intended to address current issues for physical security integrators. In addition to cybersecurity, this year’s sessions will cover the use of proprietary platforms and unconventional security solutions. A new IT pavilion on the show floor will highlight the latest cybersecurity solutions.

Attendees at the SIA Education@ISC conference program (April 14-16) are eligible for continuing education credits from organisations such as ALOA, ASIS, NICET and (ISC)2. Learning lab programs include hands-on training and the opportunity to hone sales skills and strategies. The conference will also address diverse topics such as best practices for talent management, making the most of Big Data, and "How to Survive in the Security Industry: The Next 10 Years." No doubt survival – for 10 years and even beyond – will involve being a part of ISC West each year in Las Vegas. See you there.