Radio frequency Identification

ZeroEyes, creators of the multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, announces that specialty insurance leader David Macpherson has joined the company as a strategic advisor for risk and insurance. He will advise ZeroEyes on insurance strategy, alternative risk financing, customer risk-management programs, and engagement with global insurers. ZeroEyes pioneered human-verified visual firearm detection to help organisations identify imminent active threats and facilitate faster, life-saving response with real-time, reliable intelligence. As the company expands its threat detection analytics and capabilities, it is also working to support the acute needs of risk management and recovery. Firearm-related events The recently launched Harborwatch Association is an affiliated, risk-focused membership organisation initially serving PK-12 organisations that have deployed ZeroEyes visual firearm detection on premises. It provides access to resources intended to strengthen preparedness, response and resilience, as well as crisis management and risk-financing support connected to qualifying firearm-related events. “Human-verified threat detection, delivered in real time, can support better risk management, more effective crisis response and new approaches to financing weapons-related risk,” said Macpherson. “I am excited to help ZeroEyes develop this opportunity.” Global insurance programs Macpherson is Head of Specialty at C J Coleman and has more than 20 years of experience designing and implementing global insurance programs for major organisations. His expertise includes active assailant coverage, complex geopolitical and emerging risks. In his advisory role, David Macpherson will support ZeroEyes as it: Develops risk management and loss-control resources tied to the company’s technology and operational experience Evaluates new insurance and alternative risk-financing applications Strengthens Harborwatch Association and related initiatives Builds relationships across the commercial insurance industry “The most valuable insurance partnerships seek to do more than simply transfer risk,” Macpherson added. “They help organisations understand exposure, reduce risk, and respond more effectively when an event occurs. ZeroEyes has the operational foundation to pilot that model for the industry.”

dormakaba has signed a binding agreement to acquire Alliants Limited, the guest experience technology partner behind more than 100,000 hotel rooms for the world’s leading hospitality brands. The acquisition will strengthen dormakaba’s position as a global hospitality access solutions leader. It expands the company’s hospitality offering beyond physical access control, connecting room entry with digital guest engagement to support a seamless guest journey while preserving customer choice. Established experience platform Founded in 2009 in Southampton, United Kingdom, Alliants provides proprietary guest experience software and managed services that help hotels serve guests from pre-arrival through their stay and beyond. Its capabilities include concierge, contactless check-in, mobile key, payments, messaging, and agentic AI. The company operates globally and employs more than 100 people. With a strong track record of delivering hotel room keys to both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, Alliants’ digital hotel key technology was recognised by TIME magazine as one of the best inventions of 2025. By pairing Alliants' powerful and established experience platform with dormakaba's global portfolio and scale, hotels will have the option for an end-to-end solution across digital guest engagement, access, and hotel operations. Digital guest engagement Both dormakaba and Alliants will remain interoperable with other providers across the tech stack providing real choice for hotels to work with other manufacturers and software partners to best fit their needs. Till Reuter, CEO of dormakaba, says: “Hotel owners and operators increasingly view access and guest experience as part of the same strategy. Alliants adds proven technology and deep hospitality expertise that help us better serve hotels today and as their needs evolve. Hospitality is a key growth vertical for dormakaba, and this acquisition reflects our continued investment in the sector globally while broadening the value we can deliver to hotel customers.” Digital guest journey Tristan Gadsby, CEO and Founder of Alliants, says: “Access and guest experience stopped being separate problems some time ago; the industry's tooling just hasn't caught up. Alliants brings the digital guest journey, and dormakaba brings a proven track record in access and a presence in more than 130 countries. Together we can offer hotels one route through it – without asking them to give up the partners they already trust.” The parties have agreed not to disclose further details or the financial terms of the transaction. The agreement was signed today, and dormakaba expects the transaction to close after regulatory approval, expected within this year.

Diligent, the AI pioneer in governance, risk and compliance (GRC) solutions, announces a major enhancement to Diligent One, its native AI platform, at Gartner’s Enterprise Risk, Audit and Compliance Conference (ERAC). “For many organisations, GRC work is slowed by fragmented systems, manual coordination and time-consuming reporting processes,” said Brian Stafford, President and CEO of Diligent. “Our latest agentic capabilities help teams cut through that complexity by connecting context, surfacing what matters and driving faster execution — while keeping governance and professional judgement at the center." Replacing human judgement The orchestration agent in Diligent One gives GRC professionals a natural-language interface to coordinate audit and risk work. Instead of simply answering questions, it enables users to describe what they need, and routes work to the right specialised agents to execute workflows. Agents are built on Diligent One’s connected GRC data, giving them the domain knowledge to execute workflows across the audit and risk lifecycle, automating the work that slows practitioners down without replacing human judgement. Through Diligent One, specialised agents: Help risk teams move from periodic assessments to continuous management by working directly in Diligent Enterprise Risk Management. The agent monitors risk data, cleans records, coordinates assessments, follows up on overdue actions, escalates issues and surfaces emerging risks. Help internal audit teams plan and execute audits faster by turning manual preparation into conversational workflows in Diligent Audit. The agent identifies relevant risks, maps them to audit objectives, links existing controls and supports evidence collection, testing and findings development. Using conversational prompts In addition, AI reporting turns live risk and controls data into board-ready reports and insights on demand. Using conversational prompts or templates, teams can quickly surface key findings and generate polished, secure, source-cited reports in minutes instead of days — eliminating hours spent manually pulling together data, insights and presentations. “Risk and audit teams are being asked to look beyond what happened yesterday and give the business the insights it needs to make better decisions today and tomorrow,” said Scott Bridgen, General Manager, Risk & Audit at Diligent. “That means moving from static, point-in-time reporting to always-on monitoring that can identify changes as they happen and trigger action in real time, with the right level of oversight, approval and accountability.” Connected intelligence layer At the foundation of Diligent One is the GRC brain, a connected intelligence layer that links regulations, obligations, policies, controls, risks, evidence and actions. By connecting this information, the GRC brain gives agents the domain knowledge to work like an experienced GRC practitioner, equipped with deep context of how information connects across the business. This connected intelligence gives Diligent One’s agents the ability to reason across relationships to deliver sharper insights and clearly explain the rationale behind the recommendations. The result is practical, actionable intelligence that helps GRC teams prioritise work, surface potential gaps and respond more efficiently to emerging risks. The GRC brain will become available in select Diligent solutions in October. Diligent is showcasing its latest agentic capabilities at Gartner ERAC in Dallas on September 15-16, Booth 201.

Corelight, a pioneer in enabling the defensible AI SOC, today announced new solutions to accelerate the adoption of the AI SOC without surrendering the transparency, auditability, and control that network defence demands. Corelight released the Agent Builder Library and Natural Language Query to best leverage the speed and functionality of AI and address the state of constant vulnerability most enterprises now face. Corelight is also expanding its detection coverage beyond identifying which AI applications are in use to catching AI supply-chain compromise, anomalous AI activity, and stealth command-and-control (C2) and exfiltration — all feeding directly into the same expert-authored, auditable investigation logic behind its AI capabilities. Enterprise patching cycles Attackers are using AI models to accelerate vulnerability discovery and exploitation, compressing the window defenders have to respond. While typical enterprise patching cycles can still run from 60 to 150 days, the median time to exploit has fallen to roughly five days. In addition, with Mythos-class AI models, defenders are expecting to see vulnerabilities exploited before there is broad knowledge that there is even a hole to be patched. Faster patching simply is not the answer – AI-speed attacks require AI-speed defence. However, widespread adoption of AI in the SOC is progressing slower than attacker adoption of AI, held back by two persistent barriers: a network expertise gap and a query language expertise gap. Corelight’s latest release eliminates both. Network forensics knowledge "The instinct is to fight AI-speed attacks with AI-speed defense, and that's right. But speed without expertise is just fast guessing,” said Vijit Nair, senior vice president of product at Corelight. "We’ve packaged a decade of network forensics knowledge into building blocks that any AI agent can execute, whether it’s ours or the customer’s own. The result is an AI investigation that’s transparent enough for a skeptical analyst to verify line-by-line, accessible enough for a day-one hire to use immediately, and operational enough to put these agentically validated, pre-triaged threats directly in front of the human as quickly as possible.” Challenging cyber threat Corelight has spent more than a decade turning ground-truth network evidence into the standard that the most attacked, hardened security teams rely on. Earlier this year, Corelight also introduced Agentic triage, category-first AI capabilities that help modern SOCs automate the most repetitive tasks consuming security teams, dramatically improving analyst efficiency and speed while also building trust through complete transparency. This launch extends that same expertise into tools that let every SOC operate as elite network defenders, ready to combat the most challenging cyber threat in history. Corelight Agent Builder Library — Tackling the expertise barrier, Corelight provides a structured set of triage playbooks, field explanations, entity-pivoting guides, and investigation decision trees, distilled from more than a decade of Corelight's network forensics expertise. Because the logic is deterministic and documented rather than probabilistic, it is fully exportable — security teams can bring it into their own AI agents, SOAR workflows, or private LLM environments, including air-gapped and classified networks with no cloud connectivity. Natural Language Query (NLQ) — Addressing the query syntax barrier, Corelight lets analysts ask plain-English questions about network evidence and receive working, LogScale queries that are automatically validated and executed against their data. Orchestrated AI sub-agents analyse each question, build a query plan, and return results with full chain-of-thought reasoning visible to the analyst. The generated query is editable so analysts can learn from the construction and refine as needed – removing the need to learn specialised syntax before investigating. Primary evaluation criterion "Security teams are increasingly investigating the use of AI to combat the accelerating speed of threat actors who have been early adopters of the technology," said Andrew Braunberg, principal analyst, Omdia. "The ability to automate security workflows are quickly becoming expected capabilities in SecOps solutions but the tools that become widely adopted in the SOC will need to do more than just automate, they will need to document, evaluate, and explain. Inspectable logic that can run outside the vendor's cloud isn't a nice-to-have anymore; for a lot of buyers, especially in regulated and air-gapped environments, it's a primary evaluation criterion." Suspicious AI gateway Unlike AI investigation tools that operate as opaque scoring engines, every Corelight-generated verdict is traceable to the specific playbook invoked, the behavioural signals that triggered it, and the evidence that supports it — a distinction critical to both to skeptical analysts and to regulators. The capabilities are designed to support documented, defensible incident response under frameworks such as NIS2, DORA, SEC disclosure rules, and CMMC 2.0. Alongside these AI investigation capabilities, Corelight is expanding beyond identifying which AI applications are in use to detecting when AI-related activity becomes a security threat. New AI threat detections identify known AI supply-chain compromise indicators, suspicious AI gateway and provider activity, attacks against exposed AI infrastructure, and anomalous AI application behaviour. Combined with expanded behavioural analytics for command-and-control and data exfiltration, Corelight gives defenders visibility across both emerging AI threats and the broader attacker path. The expansion adds three capabilities aimed at threats that don't leave a signature behind. Detect known AI threats — Corelight identifies AI supply-chain compromise indicators, known exfiltration infrastructure, suspicious AI gateways and providers, and reconnaissance or exploitation attempts against exposed AI endpoints. Detect anomalous AI activity — Application anomaly detection surfaces new or unusual AI usage and behaviour that deviates from established patterns, helping analysts identify potentially compromised or misused AI applications even when no known signature exists. Detect stealth C2 and exfiltration — Corelight combines 31-day subnet-level destination history with per-host upload baselining to surface connections to never-before-seen countries and unusual outbound data transfers, exposing C2, staging, and data theft that static blocklists or thresholds can miss. Every signal generated by the expanded Anomaly Engine feeds directly into the Corelight Agent Builder Library's playbooks and into Agentic Triage, so behavioural detections don't just fire an alert — they trigger the same expert-authored investigation logic that produces an auditable, evidence-backed verdict.

ASIS International, the world’s largest association for security management professionals, opened its 2026 Global Security Exchange (GSX) conference at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event continues through 16 September and features more than 200 education sessions and over 500 exhibitors from more than 150 nations.  The conference opened with two days of pre-conference programming on Saturday and Sunday, including ASIS Volunteers’ Day and the ASIS Awards of Excellence and the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs), which recognised excellence in security leadership, innovation, and service. Security management professionals 2026 ASIS President, Eddie Sorrells, CPP, PCI, PSP, took the stage with a tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. "The events of that day directly impacted people around 100 countries, reminding us that 9/11 was not an attack on one nation, but a moment of global consequence."  "That understanding has helped define and move us into the modern era of the security profession. Public-private collaboration, once perhaps seen as helpful, is now essential to how we anticipate threats, strengthen resilience, and respond when lives and livelihoods are at stake." Sorrells left attendees with a call to approach the future with curiosity, agility, and optimism.  Public-private collaboration Sorrells was joined on stage by ASIS International CEO Bill Tenney, who also spoke about September 11, 2001, as a pivotal moment in the evolution of the security profession. He emphasised the importance of future-focused leadership rooted in connection and human impact.  "Beyond the policies, technologies, and operating models that followed, September 11 did something deeply human. It brought this profession closer together," he said. “I have seen this profession from different vantage points: as a veteran, in government service, in the private sector, and now in the privileged role of leading this extraordinary organisation. Each experience has reinforced the same truth: security cannot advance in isolation.” Tenney said. World of accelerating change Peter Diamandis, MD, Founder and Executive Chairman, XPRIZE Foundation and Executive Founder and Director, Singularity University, opened Monday’s General Session, sponsored by Allied Universal, with keynote on the mindset shifts required of security leaders in a world of accelerating change. Discussing how exponential thinking and emerging technologies are reshaping security challenges and creating new possibilities for protection, resilience, and organisational transformation, Diamandis energised the audience with a bold vision of technology's role in building the future. "The takeaway right now for everybody in the security business is reinventing your agent-governance program," he said. Reshaping security challenges The exhibit hall welcomed over 530 organisations from over 15 countries, featured four dedicated exhibit floor learning stages including the Career HQ, X Stage, Threat Intelligence Zone, and the School Security Zone, offering attendees focused programming in the heart of the action.  Monday's Game Changer session with Jeremy Baumann, CPP, Joe M. Olivarez Jr., and Manish Mehta, moderated by Rachel Briggs, titled, "The Next Generation of Leadership: What Tomorrow’s Security Leaders Need to Know," highlighted how corporate security teams can use data-driven insights, emerging trends, and industry benchmarks to strengthen and inform organisational planning, gleaning insights from the annual CSO Survey from The Clarity Factory. Informing organisational planning Education sessions covered topics from across the security profession, including Intelligence, Organisational Resilience, Information Security, Site Security, Supply Chain Security, Personnel Security, Investigations, Executive Protection, and Governance. This year for the first time, ASIS International is offering the ANSI/ASIS School Security Standard to all schools K-12 in the conference's host state of Georgia, free of charge. Program highlights for Tuesday’s GSX lineup include:  General Session: Upgrading Your Decision-Making with AI and Data Press Availability: Interview opportunities with ASIS International Subject Matter Experts on School Security, Executive Protection, Intelligence, and more.   Game Changer: What to Watch: Mapping Risk Priorities Using ESRM Education Sessions Preview:  Drugs, Arms, and Human Trafficking: When Organised Criminal Groups Use Your Shipments for Smuggling Illicit Cargo  The Rise of Physical AI: How to Leverage 3D Spatial Intelligence in Modern Security  What to Watch: Mapping Risk Priorities Using ESRM  Lead With Hospitality: Transforming Security Operations Into Experience-Driven Risk Management  ASIS Celebrates! at the Georgia Aquarium.

Arctic Wolf®, the cybersecurity and AI company, announces the launch of Aurora MDR Connect, a new tier of Aurora Managed Detection and Response (MDR) built exclusively for managed service providers (MSPs). Powered by the Aurora Superintelligence Platform and the Aurora Agentic SOC that underpins Arctic Wolf’s flagship MDR, Aurora MDR Connect enables MSPs to extend modern security operations, including 24x7 detection, investigation, and pre-authorised response, to organisations of all sizes and stages of maturity.  The offering will help MSPs provide their customers with broader visibility and faster response with the backing of the Aurora Agentic SOC, which resolves investigations in seconds and validates every decision through the AI Trust Engine™, strengthening the MSP's role as a trusted security partner. AI-native security operations Attackers are increasingly operating at machine speed, using AI to compress the time defenders have to detect and respond. According to Arctic Wolf's 2026 AI and Cybersecurity Trends Report, 70% of security leaders believe an undetected threat has already led to a successful attack within their organisation. MSPs need that same speed and scale for their customers to support organisations of all stages of maturity. Yet, most MSPs still roll out robust MDR solutions to all segments of their business, solutions which tend to require hardware and in-depth tuning, leading to lengthy onboarding that slows every deployment. Aurora MDR Connect removes that complexity, giving MSPs a faster way to bring agentic, AI-native security operations to their entire customer base. With no network sensor to ship, rack, or configure, MSPs can deploy Aurora MDR Connect across customer environments within hours. High-touch delivery model Modern security operations require more than alerts from disconnected tools or visibility from a single source. Organisations need a unified approach that brings together visibility across the full attack surface, detects and responds to AI-powered threats, and provides the context and guidance needed to take action with confidence. That level of coverage has traditionally come through a premium, high-touch delivery model. Many MSP customers were left with endpoint-only protection instead, which does not give security analysts the full picture they need. Attackers take over accounts, compromise business email, deploy ransomware, and exfiltrate data across organisations of every size. Aurora MDR Connect closes that gap. Delivering stronger protection Purpose-built for the MSP operating model, Aurora MDR Connect provides streamlined access to the Aurora Superintelligence Platform and Aurora Agentic SOC, which together process more than 10 trillion security events each week, conduct more than 200,000 investigations weekly, and leverage an ecosystem of more than 250 integrations to deliver enterprise-grade security operations to organisations of all sizes. By ingesting telemetry from endpoint, network, cloud, identity, SaaS applications, and other sources, Aurora MDR Connect gives MSPs a more complete view of customer risk and enables detection and response across a broader attack surface. This provides MSPs the ability to give their customers access to solutions that move beyond endpoint-only security approaches and deliver stronger protection against modern threats while simplifying deployment and ongoing operations. Enterprise-grade protection "MSPs are one of the most important forces in cybersecurity today as they work with organisations to build resilience in the face of an increasingly complex threat landscape," said Will May, Chief Revenue Officer at Arctic Wolf. "Aurora MDR Connect gives MSPs a faster way to deliver the proven outcomes of the Aurora Superintelligence Platform across their customer base. Built specifically for how MSPs operate, it helps them scale security services, strengthen customer relationships, and bring enterprise-grade protection to organisations of every size without adding operational complexity.” With Aurora MDR Connect, MSPs manage the customer relationship and service delivery, while Arctic Wolf delivers the security operations, analytics, and response capabilities behind the partner. The result is a scalable security offering that enables partners to expand their security practice and support more customers without the cost, complexity, and overhead of staffing additional SOC analysts. Additional security value “MSPs operate in a business where trusted customer relationships and operational efficiency are equally important,” said Ben Bitterman, VP of MSP Sales at Arctic Wolf. “Aurora MDR Connect was built specifically for that reality. It combines the same detection and response foundation relied on by thousands of organisations with an operating model designed specifically for MSPs. Partners stay in control of the customer conversations that differentiate their business, and Arctic Wolf provides the security operations backbone. This is MDR purpose-built for MSPs.” Aurora MDR Connect also provides a clear path for MSP partners, enabling them to grow their business as their customers’ needs evolve. Because MDR Connect is built on the Aurora Superintelligence Platform, MSPs can seamlessly transition customers from Aurora MDR Connect to Aurora MDR while maintaining the same deployment and unlocking additional security value, including a named security team, deeper log retention, network sensor, or expanded Data Explorer. Stronger managed detection “Our customers have been asking for a stronger managed detection and response option that fits their specific needs,” said Ben Bowman, General Manager of Security at Marco Technologies, an Arctic Wolf MSP partner. “Aurora MDR Connect gives us exactly that. We finally have an MDR offering backed by real security operations, not just endpoint alerts, and it lets us bring a stronger security story to more of our customers.” Aurora MDR Connect is available now exclusively to MSPs that complete Arctic Wolf's technical validation and MSP training program. MSPs interested in adding Aurora MDR Connect to their portfolio can contact their Arctic Wolf partner manager.

Across many sectors, AI is transitioning from an experimental process to a trusted tool, but how will construction - and architectural ironmongery specifically - balance this technological opportunity with traditional practice? Artificial intelligence was once considered the trend of tomorrow, but it’s now here, and already it’s impacting the design, specification and management of the built environment. Following a period of refined development, the technology is emerging as a valuable tool for architectural professionals, with its growing role signifying far more than a passing industry trend. Passing industry trend According to the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Artificial Intelligence Report 2025, 59% of architectural practices now use AI on at least some projects, an increase from 41% in 2024. Furthermore, a global survey led by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2025 found that 56% of investors planned to increase AI investment, suggesting that the rate of adoption will continue to accelerate over the coming years. However, whilst innovation typically creates opportunity, there are challenges to address These findings represent a cultural shift, one where AI is firmly embedding itself into workflows and influencing the decision making process. However, whilst innovation typically creates opportunity, there are challenges to address. As more professionals equip themselves with an arsenal of AI-driven tools, are we in danger of becoming overly reliant on technology? Or are those reluctant to adapt likely to be left behind? Daniel May, Director at Consort Architectural Hardware, shares insight: Repetitive administration tasks “The development of the built environment has always relied on technical precision. Specifications naturally contain large volumes of product information and technical data, with professionals managing document-heavy tasks in the form of specification writing, door scheduling and BIM coordination in order to meet project requirements and compliance obligations. All of this data must be analysed and processed accurately - often in line with demanding timescales - and it is here where AI can offer the greatest value.” “Where time was once consumed by repetitive administration tasks and information processing, professionals are now embracing AI as a means of working more efficiently. For architectural ironmongery specifically, where specification accuracy is critical, AI has the potential to support architects and specification professionals as they navigate the product selection process. As a tool, AI can streamline documentation by rapidly processing performance data and certification requirements, whilst also identifying inconsistencies and absent compliance information within schedules.” Complex project requirements “AI systems are helping professionals navigate increasingly complex project requirements quickly, accurately and consistently. As machine learning and autonomous models continue to advance, these tools may further reduce the administrative burden associated with architectural work models whilst improving accuracy and minimising the risk of human error in the process. With that said, the effectiveness of AI software is very much reliant on the quality of the information it receives.” “With the sector so deeply tied to fire safety, accessibility, security and regulatory standards, the caution around adopting AI as common practice is of course justified. Historically, much of the construction industry has been measured in its adoption of new technology, partly due to the critical nature of compliance and the significant consequences of error. Though, AI feels somewhat different because of its pace and potential, and as such, organisations must be measured in their approach to it, ensuring that professional knowledge remains central to delivering safe, efficient and compliant building projects.” The human element As industry standards and the legislation surrounding the built environment continues to evolve, so too will the methods used to achieve high level design and compliance. Seemingly, AI looks set to have an increasingly prominent role, but it should be viewed as a collaborative partner capable of enhancing professional expertise as opposed to a system that can, or should, do it all. Daniel continues: “At this stage, AI alone simply can’t understand the nuances of individual projects and that has implications for both design and compliance. This is particularly relevant in the post-Grenfell regulatory landscape, where accountability, traceability and evidence-based decision-making have become fundamental to product specification and delivery.” Building greater trust “Although AI can assist with information processing, the technology is not ultimately responsible for the decisions being made. Accountability has rightly become a major focus point in construction, and as AI continues to disrupt practices, the industry must ensure that responsibility remains clearly defined. AI-driven errors could lead to serious penalties in relation to compliance, safety and project delivery, proving human expertise remains critical.” “Moving forward, greater transparency within AI systems will be key. If professionals are able to understand how or why AI recommendations have been generated, they can assess them with confidence, building greater trust in the technology.” Architectural design solutions “When it comes to architectural design, the emotional intelligence, contextual understanding and creative balance offered by a team of professionals far outweighs the speed that AI can offer. Already, AI is being used to support visualisation and concept development for multi-layered projects in hospitality, healthcare and commercial environments to name a few, helping teams to explore ideas and communicate concepts at a quicker rate.” “However, can AI effectively develop architectural design solutions based on the bespoke requirements of a project, the operational needs of its users or even the general character of the building? Most would argue that it’s not conceivable, because AI lacks the lived experience and contextual understanding that comes from being present in the project itself.” Architectural ironmongery products “For architectural ironmongery products, professionals must regularly assess how products will function in real environments. Human intuition is impossible to replace and those informed design decisions, made by human professionals, will always be essential. Whilst some question whether AI could one day plan and deliver a project from concept to completion, perhaps the more important question should be whether future generations of professionals could lose the critical design and specification skills that are needed, should the industry become too dependent on AI.” “There is a growing sense of inevitability surrounding AI’s influence on architectural ironmongery and the wider built environment. As the industry continues to embrace this new wave of technological development, it is important to remember that innovation must complement the knowledge, judgement and accountability of the professionals who create safe and functional buildings, not replace it.”

In logistics hubs, production facilities and distribution centres, the access control system is invisible—until it isn't. For decades, the 125 kHz card has been the workhorse of industrial credentialing: inexpensive, reliable and universally understood. It does exactly what it has always done. That consistency has served many organisations well, even as security needs and credential From authentication to smart buildings, gain expert insights about unified access. The same card technology that opened the warehouse gate in 2005 is opening it today. And while operations teams have upgraded conveyors, ERP systems and warehouse management platforms, the front door has often remained on technology selected for an earlier era. Major operational event Why? It is rarely about a lack of awareness. More often, organisations are balancing cost, time and operational risk. In a facility that never stops, a full systemwide upgrade can feel less like a routine project and more like a major operational event. The path forward is continuous modernisation: deploying an agile access layer that adapts to new security requirements and credential technologies over time, rather than replacing everything at once. Universal reader technology makes that possible, without the “Big Bang” shutdown. Why legacy systems can benefit from modernisation The 125 kHz card (also named proximity, prox or low-frequency) helped set a practical standard for convenience and broad compatibility, but many organisations are now evaluating where its security model can be improved by newer options: Increased cryptographic protection. Traditional low-frequency credentials transmit a fixed identifier, which can make them harder to align with today’s expectations for encrypted and dynamic authentication. Increased credential validation. Traditional proximity systems do not provide the kind of mutual authentication or challenge‑response mechanisms that are increasingly common in newer credential platforms. Better protection from duplication/cloning. Because the credential model is comparatively simple, 125 kHz cards present fewer barriers to duplication or cloning than modern encrypted credentials which are inherently designed to better distinguish authorised users from copied identifies. An opportunity to secure the full path. Many legacy deployments also rely on Wiegand communication between reader and controller, creating a strong case for modernisation to encrypted, supervised protocols that help protect credential data in transit. Keeping the interoperability benefit of Prox. Newer open standard provides the same interoperability benefits while addressing improved security. The opportunity for the front door At the same time, security teams face an expanding threat landscape and compliance requirements A traditional access control upgrade is not just a technology swap. It means new readers at every door, new credentials issued to every employee and contractor, platform reconfiguration and installation labor across a facility that cannot afford to stop. Against that backdrop, the rational choice is often to do nothing. At the same time, security teams face an expanding threat landscape and compliance requirements that increasingly demand encrypted credentials. And with Apple Wallet corporate badges and BLE mobile credentials moving into the mainstream, employees and contractors will soon expect to use their phone as their badge, at least as an option if not the primary means of credential presentation. Four specific friction points keep organisations locked in place long after they know they should move. The logistical bottleneck - Replacing a proximity-based system has traditionally meant doing everything at once: new readers, new credentials, new platform configuration, every employee and contractor rebadged before the cutover date. For a site running 24/7 with extensive staff and rotating contractors, that isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a logistical nightmare requiring a hard shutdown. The rebadging event alone, coordinating hundreds or thousands of people through a credential transition on a fixed timeline, can consume weeks of HR and security operations bandwidth. The Credential Soup - Most logistics organisations are not running one clean credential population. They are running three or four: legacy prox for permanent staff, a different format inherited from an acquisition, a contractor badge system managed by a third party, a mobile pilot that never fully rolled out. None of them talk to each other, and no single reader handles all of them. Frozen Infrastructure - Static readers support only the credential formats they shipped with or have limited format support for updates. When a new vulnerability is disclosed or a new mobile standard is released, the hardware has no path to adapt. The only option is physical replacement, which means another capital project, more installation labour, and the same shutdown risk all over again. The Cyber-Physical Gap - IT departments run zero-trust architectures and encrypt everything on the network. Then the same organisation unlocks its server room with a Wiegand-protocol reader transmitting credentials in plain text. The IT security perimeter ends at the network edge. The physical front door is a different conversation entirely, and often nobody's budget. The way forward: Continuous modernisation of access credentials A continuous modernisation plan is both easier and more cost-effective than a one-time “rip-and-replace” event The answer to the Big Bang problem is not a better-planned Big Bang. It is a fundamentally different approach to access infrastructure that treats modernisation as an ongoing capability rather than a one-time event. A continuous modernisation plan is both easier and more cost-effective than a one-time “rip-and-replace” event. It significantly lowers the labour and logistical costs of rebadging the entire organisation at once and eliminates the need for forced downtime entirely. Instead, organisations upgrade incrementally (by site, by department, or as credentials expire), keeping operations running and spreading costs over time. And with future-proof universal reader technology, the reader stops being a fixed asset and becomes a platform that continues to evolve as needs change. Start with a universal infrastructure The foundation of continuous modernisation is a universal reader that can handle whatever credentials are already in the building (legacy proximity, modern smart cards, mobile credentials) while remaining ready for whatever comes next. As access technologies continue to evolve, support for additional credential formats and security approaches can be added through firmware updates rather than hardware replacement, ensuring a secure and future-proof access system. The burden can further be eased by the use of a universal credential that can support existing formats along with new formats, enabling the credentials to work on existing readers as well as new readers. Let old and new credentials coexist Legacy 125 kHz cards continue to function in parallel until the organisation is ready to retire them With a multi-technology reader in place, the rebadging process becomes a rolling transition rather than a synchronised event. New employees get modern credentials from day one. Existing staff transition as badges are renewed or departments are prioritised. Legacy 125 kHz cards continue to function in parallel until the organisation is ready to retire them. Eventually, 125 kHz support or insecure credential support can be switched off, cleanly and deliberately, via a remote firmware update. That means no forced downtime, and no mass confusion at the turnstiles. This applies equally to secure migration to either modern symmetric credentials (such as HID Seos or LEAF) or emerging asymmetric credentials (such as PKOC, Aliro or LEAF Verified). Secure the whole chain, not just the card Upgrading credentials without addressing the communication layer is only half the job. Moving from Wiegand to OSDP Secure Channel (a bidirectional, AES-128 encrypted protocol) closes the replay attack vulnerability and adds tamper detection between reader and controller. Modern credentials and a secure communication layer together protect the entire authentication chain, from the card or smartphone all the way to the access control platform. This becomes critical when the reader is handling the decryption of a secure credential and then communicating to the panel in clear text. OSDP encrypts this last step of communication, while also offering industry best practices for managing reader devices. Choose infrastructure that doesn't choose for you Interoperability is not just a convenience feature. It is a strategic asset Interoperability is not just a convenience feature. It is a strategic asset. A facility running universal reader infrastructure compatible with most transponder technologies and credential formats (physical and mobile) is insulated from vendor lock-in and the next credential transition. Universal readers also act as merger-and-acquisition insurance: when a company acquires a facility running a different badge system or a contractor arrives with an unfamiliar card format, existing readers can be configured to accept the new credentials from day one. As access technologies and credential standards continue to evolve, organisations with adaptable reader infrastructure will absorb that shift as a firmware update. Those without it will face another capital project. A market in motion: beyond legacy credentials Emerging open standards (which reduce vendor dependency) and widely adopted proprietary platforms are both moving the market toward stronger cryptography. These credentials can be delivered on physical smart cards, mobile devices or both. Organisations selecting reader infrastructure today should ensure it is prepared to support this transition without requiring a hardware swap. Several initiatives are gaining significant traction: LEAF Identity: An interoperable credential framework built on strong symmetric encryption, already deployed across a meaningful number of installations and a proven replacement path for legacy proximity systems LEAF Verified: A next‑generation physical access credential platform built on NXP’s MIFARE DUOX that uses public‑key cryptography to eliminate traditional shared key management and enable interoperable, vendor‑neutral access control. PKOC (Public Key Open Credential): An open, vendor-agnostic credential specification from the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance using asymmetric public key cryptography, in which the private key never leaves the device and a derivative of the public key is the credential Aliro: An open mobile-first credential standard released in February 2026 by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the organisation behind the Matter smart home standard. Backed by Apple, Google, Samsung, and 220+ industry members providing native wallet, offline device support and mailbox features on top of asymmetric public key cryptography. HID Seos: A widely deployed proprietary credential platform that continues to drive responsible, large-scale secure symmetric-based encrypted deployments across small to enterprise environments for both card and mobile deployment, including wallet. Security that scales The same principles apply equally to a single site or a logistics operator running 5,000 employees The same principles apply equally to a single site or a logistics operator running 5,000 employees across a dozen sites. Because no single cutover date is required, a large organisation can sequence the migration by site, by department or by credential expiry cycle. The operational risk that makes a traditional upgrade unthinkable at scale becomes manageable when the transition is invisible to the people walking through the doors. The pressure to act is reaching a tipping point. Apple Wallet corporate badges and BLE mobile credentials are arriving in earnest in 2026, as well as asymmetric smart card options. These technologies are rapidly moving from isolated pilots into mainstream enterprise deployment across logistics, manufacturing and production environments. Evolve security infrastructure Organisations that have already invested in universal reader and credential infrastructure that is firmware-updateable and mobile-ready will absorb that shift without a second thought. Those that haven't will face another rip-and-replace decision just as the mobile credential wave hits. Organisations that have already invested in universal reader and credential infrastructure Continuous modernisation is not a one-time project. It is a permanent capability: the ability to evolve security infrastructure at the organisation's own pace, without forced downtime, without mass rebadging events, and without being held hostage to the next credential transition. Organisations that build that capability today are not just solving a security problem. They are future-proofing the way their facilities move. Universal access from ELATEC ELATEC's TWN4 universal readers are built on an agnostic design strategy: multi-technology, multi-frequency, and software-configurable, so organisations are not locked into a single credential technology or vendor. Key capabilities across the TWN4 family: Support for 100+ physical and mobile credentials and 60+ transponder technologies RFID, NFC, and BLE in a single reader platform Software-configurable via the ELATEC DevPack: credential formats, encryption settings, and security protocols can be updated remotely without hardware replacement Supports backward and forward compatibility as new standards emerge Available in a range of form factors for door access, desktop enrollment, OEM integration, and industrial applications

It has been 10 years since the European Union adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), triggering a fundamental overhaul of data protection and privacy law. Today, GDPR is embedded in the day-to-day operations of organisations working with, or within, EU member states. GDPR was introduced in recognition that the world had changed profoundly and that existing data protection laws were no longer adequate in an increasingly digital and interconnected environment. The regulation was also designed to be forward-looking, providing a framework capable of governing innovation and emerging technologies. However, the rapid growth of AI-driven applications is prompting national data protection authorities to revise guidance for systems that process personal data. AI-driven applications Some of this innovation was already gaining momentum before GDPR, most notably body-worn video, which was being tested and deployed primarily by police forces. At the same time, more advanced projects, such as live streaming, were receiving funding, while organisations across the public and private sectors moved quickly to achieve compliance ahead of the regulation’s entry into force in 2018. Today, body-worn video is widely used by police forces in the U.K., France, Germany and Italy Today, body-worn video is widely used by police forces in the U.K., France, Germany and Italy, with adoption continuing to grow elsewhere. Uptake in commercial environments is more uneven. Some member states apply stricter rules than others, particularly around whether and how the technology may be used, and whether it infringes the rights of workers or members of the public. Facial recognition systems These concerns are amplified in relation to live facial recognition. In the U.K., no longer an EU member state but still aligned with GDPR, the government is encouraging police use of the technology and concluded a consultation on a new legal framework in February 2026. While reported deployments have been positive, the technology remains controversial and continues to attract opposition from civil liberties groups. The picture is further complicated by the fact that many facial recognition systems rely on AI. As a result, they may breach the EU AI Act, which entered into force in 2024 and largely prohibits real-time biometric identification in public spaces. Complex video environments This capability is critical not only for operational needs but also for responding to DSARs Over the past decade, video use across Europe has expanded significantly, encompassing CCTV, body-worn video, smartphone footage and video doorbells. At the same time, major advances in technology now allow security professionals to manage larger and more complex video environments while remaining compliant with GDPR. Modern video management systems (VMS) are a clear example. Security control room operators, whether on site or working from centralised locations, can now retrieve relevant footage quickly and efficiently. This capability is critical not only for operational needs but also for responding to data subject access requests (DSARs), which require organisations to provide personal data on request, within reasonable limits, or for sharing footage with law enforcement during investigations. Hybrid video environments Masking and blurring technologies have also improved significantly, reducing the time and effort required to redact footage before it is shared, either digitally or physically. Because GDPR applies to both public and private sector organisations, redaction requirements also apply when footage is shared with police. However, the economic and operational benefits of these systems have driven greater transparency The shift from on premises systems to cloud-based and hybrid video environments has introduced new challenges, particularly around data residency and the risk of EU citizens’ personal data being stored outside GDPR jurisdiction. However, the economic and operational benefits of these systems have driven greater transparency and the development of stronger controls, enabling organisations to adopt them with greater confidence. Delivering meaningful protections GDPR replaced the EU’s 1995 Data Protection Directive. In the 21 years between that directive and GDPR’s adoption, the world moved decisively from analogue to digital. Ten years on, the regulation has proved resilient in delivering meaningful protections for EU citizens’ personal data. While there have been several high-profile fines related to CCTV use, some exceeding €10 million, the security industry has adapted effectively. Challenges, debate and controversy will undoubtedly continue as AI creates new opportunities to enhance safety and security operations. Taken together, GDPR and the EU AI Act provide a robust legal framework that allows security professionals to innovate while maintaining strong safeguards for privacy and data protection.

Combining VIVOTEK’s branded video security business with March Networks paves the way for the combined brands to meet customers’ increasing appetite for integrated solutions rather than individual components. The merger brings VIVOTEK's branded video security business together under one operating structure with March Networks’ enterprise-grade video surveillance, AI analytics, and cloud-managed security solutions. Customers now have access to a broader, more integrated portfolio spanning enterprise video management, advanced cameras, edge artificial intelligence (AI), cloud services, recording platforms, and business intelligence, says Net Payne, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at March Networks and VIVOTEK. Distinct product strategies Given the combined companies, product development, sales, marketing, and customer support can move in step rather than in parallel. March Networks and VIVOTEK were already both part of the Delta Electronics family, but they previously operated as separate businesses with distinct product strategies, teams, and routes to market. March Networks and VIVOTEK announced the merger of their branded video security businesses last spring following Delta Electronics' acquisition of remaining VIVOTEK shares. “Aligning our complementary capabilities lets us innovate faster, simplify engagement, and respond more quickly to a market moving toward AI, cloud and intelligent video,” says Payne. This merger reflects a broader shift across the physical security industry, adds Payne. “Customers no longer see video purely as a tool for reviewing incidents after the fact,” he says. “They expect it to help identify risks earlier, simplify investigations, improve operations, and support better decisions across the organisation.” Cloud video management Meeting customer expectations requires more than bolting AI features onto existing systems Meeting customer expectations requires more than bolting AI features onto existing systems. Rather, it requires cameras, edge intelligence, recording, software, cloud services, and business data working together as one coordinated platform. “By bringing March Networks and VIVOTEK together, we combine deep expertise across the full video technology stack while preserving the relationships, sector knowledge and customer focus both companies have built over many years,” says Payne. “Our goal is to make intelligent video more integrated, scalable, and practical for customers and partners worldwide.” Both entities bring strengths to the combined companies. March Networks brings experience in enterprise software, cloud video management and large-scale deployments; while VIVOTEK brings strength in imaging, camera technology and edge intelligence. Together they seek to ensure more choice when designing systems, a clearer path for future expansion, and technologies that work together more effectively without compromising the reliability, cybersecurity, and support customers expect from both companies. Advantages for channel partners Channel partners gain a broader portfolio to address a wider range of customer requirements, combining components as each deployment demands. Channel partners also benefit from expanded geographic reach, deeper technical expertise, and greater investment in training and enablement. “Importantly, this is designed to be a seamless transition,” says Payne. “Partners keep working with the teams and relationships they already know, while gaining access to new capabilities and certification opportunities. Over time, that alignment should make it easier to design, deploy and support complete solutions.” Because they are established and respected brands, March Networks and VIVOTEK branding will continue to be used. Rebranding is not a goal, and neither identity is being replaced by the other. Coordinated decision-making “The immediate priority is organisational alignment by making it easier for customers and partners to benefit from the combined portfolio,” says Payne. Product branding will continue to reflect the relevant portfolio and market context. As product roadmaps become more closely coordinated, customers can expect greater interoperability and a more cohesive experience, says Payne. Any future branding changes will be managed carefully and communicated clearly. Combining the businesses reduces duplication and enables coordinated decision-making across product strategy, engineering, sales, marketing, operations, and customer support. “Instead of developing capabilities independently, teams can share their expertise, align roadmaps, and direct investment to where it has the greatest customer impact,” says Payne. Combining specialised knowledge globally The combined organisation operates across six continents and more than 75 countries The combined organisation includes more than 300 research and development (R&D) engineers across four Centres of Excellence in Canada, Taiwan, Italy and Poland, thus bringing together a substantial base of specialist knowledge. The unified network also sharpens the ability to prioritise global opportunities, respond to regional needs and bring innovations to market faster. The combined organisation operates across six continents and more than 75 countries, supported by more than 1,100 certified channel partners. That footprint provides greater capacity to support multinational customers while staying responsive to local market needs. Looking ahead, future growth will increasingly come from helping customers turn video into useful, actionable intelligence. “The market is moving beyond conventional surveillance toward solutions combining AI, cloud services, edge processing, video management and operational data — and our new structure brings these together as one connected solution rather than several isolated technologies,” says Payne. Broader technical expertise There will also be closer collaboration among specialists in imaging, hardware, software, analytics, and cloud, which is important given how much customer infrastructure, regulatory, and deployment requirements vary. The companies can support cloud, hybrid, and on-premise environments, giving organisations a practical path toward more intelligent video. More choice comes from bringing together complementary technologies across product groups. Greater scale is achieved through a larger engineering organisation, broader technical expertise and more capacity to invest in innovation. Challenges for the industry at large Looking to the future for the industry at large, the greatest challenge will be managing the rapid growth of AI Looking to the future for the industry at large, the greatest challenge will be managing the rapid growth of AI responsibly, securely and at scale, says Payne. Video systems will generate more data and automate more decisions, but organisations must be able to trust how that intelligence is created, protected, and applied, he adds. “Cybersecurity, privacy, data sovereignty, system interoperability and AI accuracy are more important than ever,” says Payne. Addressing these elements requires expertise across the entire technology stack: from camera and edge processing to recording, cloud infrastructure, video management and analytics. “Together, March Networks and VIVOTEK can coordinate development across all these layers, giving customers flexible architectures that balance innovation with security, transparency and operational control,” says Payne.

IQSIGHT seeks to bring visual intelligence to environments where clarity, reliability, and trust matter the most, says CEO Sabrina Stainburn. Formerly Bosch Video Systems, IQSIGHT is an intelligence-first video security company, combining more than 60 years of engineering expertise with real-time intelligence to help organisations see clearly, act confidently, and improve outcomes in environments when every second matters. While the brand is new, the technology, reliability, and trust behind it are familiar— the products still carry the Bosch name, and the engineering teams remain the same to ensure the continuation of the Bosch legacy. As a result, customers can expect the same standards they rely on today. Embracing emerging technologies IQSIGHT is embracing emerging technologies. “We are applying AI where it delivers value by helping systems understand what is happening and surface the events and patterns that matter most—so customers can detect risk earlier, make faster decisions, and operate with confidence,” says Stainburn. With intelligence at the edge, the cameras act as sensors to secure premises, make buildings safer, and monitor perimeters — without requiring a cloud connection. Edge-based AI also supports integration into existing systems to add visual intelligence without a rip-and-replace — such as adding cameras with visual gun detection outside of entrances or supplementing systems with the ability to detect clothing colour and other attributes. IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities AI-enabled capabilities IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities designed to remove blind spots IQSIGHT combines the Bosch video portfolio with new AI-enabled capabilities designed to remove blind spots and support earlier, better-informed decisions. The portfolio continues to include intelligent cameras, such as the FLEXIDOME, AUTODOME, DINION, and MIC models, AI-enabled Intelligent Video Analytics Pro (IVA Pro) offerings, and recording and video management solutions, such as BVMS software. This year, the portfolio will also expand with technologies and solutions built on IQSIGHT’s new intelligence-first platform. Vertical markets that are core to the strategy include government, critical infrastructure, education, and smart cities, all industries closely connected with safety, continuity, and operational performance. In these environments, visual intelligence helps organisations address practical challenges — securing perimeters, enhancing safety, and improving traffic flow — so they can operate securely and efficiently. Visual intelligence helps organisations address practical challenges Operating securely and efficiently “Reliability is essential in these industries, and our cameras are engineered to Bosch quality standards and designed to perform in demanding conditions, including extreme weather, while delivering dependable video and accurate analytics where it matters most,” says Stainburn. “These strengths make our video solutions ideal for any industry where security must be uncompromised.”   IQSIGHT evolves from the sale of Bosch’s security and communications technology product business to European investment firm Triton on June 30, 2025. The product brands for video systems, access control, intrusion systems, and communications systems united under the roof of the new company Keenfinity Group. New organisational structure The Keenfinity Group now operates as a holding company consisting of four businesses In late 2025, Keenfinity Group introduced a new organisational structure designed to unlock the next chapter of growth and innovation. The Keenfinity Group now operates as a holding company consisting of four businesses, including the video systems business now called IQSIGHT. Bosch has a long history of partnerships and integrations, and partnerships will remain essential to how IQSIGHT delivers value and flexibility for customers. “We work closely with technology partners to ensure customers can use visual intelligence within the platforms and architectures that best fit their operations,” says Stainburn. Secure-by-design approach Deep integrations include VMS platforms, such as Genetec and Milestone, thus enabling real-time insights across on-premise and cloud environments. This approach gives customers choice — without compromising performance, security, or reliability, according to IQSIGHT. “Continually strengthening our existing partnerships is vital, and we regularly add capabilities to these integrations to deliver new features to enhance security and safety for customers,” says Stainburn. “Cybersecurity is not a feature for us — it’s a foundation,” Stainburn emphasises. “As video systems become more connected and intelligence moves closer to the edge, trust must be designed in from the start. We take a secure-by-design approach across our hardware, software, and integrations. That means protecting data at every stage — from capture to analysis to delivery.” Combining sight and intelligence Just as important, the company works closely with partners and customers to ensure systems fit into their broader security and IT strategies. “When organisations rely on video to make critical decisions, security and reliability must be non-negotiable,” says Stainburn. Stainburn sees video as evolving from traditional surveillance into “visual intelligence” — moving from simply recording events to understanding what is happening in real time. By combining sight and intelligence, organisations can see patterns, giving them the power to predict events that may happen. Proactively addressing risks Stainburn sees video as evolving from traditional surveillance into “visual intelligence” Traditionally, video security was based on video surveillance — an investigative tool for users to review what has already happened. With AI, users can take a different approach — looking at patterns to better secure their premises and have the foresight to intervene before incidents escalate. AI helps systems understand what is happening in a scene, enabling them to discern between a person standing at a train platform and an individual vandalising a train platform, someone holding a power drill versus someone holding a gun. “This level of visual intelligence brings clarity to unfolding events to assist users in proactively addressing risks,” says Stainburn. AI-enabled video systems With foresight, end users can prevent those events from occurring or other issues from escalating. The ability to discern patterns can also influence decisions around safety, resource use, and the customer experience, says Stainburn. “While security will always remain core, we expect visual intelligence to play an increasingly important role in improving operational efficiency across many environments over the next five years.” Not all AI-enabled video systems are equal. Edge, cloud, and GenAI-based tools have different strengths and selecting one approach over another depends on the application or the problem customers need to solve. IQSIGHT works closely with integrators and end users to understand the challenges they are addressing and to provide guidance on the best AI approach to reduce risks, lower response times, and improve operations. Proof of concept projects are important to demonstrating performance in the real world. That’s where IQSIGHT gains an advantage with solutions that deliver reliable results even in challenging conditions, says Stainburn.

Security professionals are recognising the intelligence value of leveraging publicly and commercially available information. This information can now be accessed more effectively from typically hard-to-reach regions. Also, the technological capabilities have matured in our age of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. Intelligence has historically been based on classified data. However, today’s unclassified data, including open-source intelligence (OSINT), is increasingly being used to provide context and queuing for other types of intelligence. Advanced identity intelligence Babel Street is a technology company providing advanced identity intelligence and risk operations using an AI-enabled data-to-knowledge platform to unlock insights from a flood of data. The company provides advanced data analytics and intelligence for the world’s most trusted government and commercial organisations. Experts have predicted that by 2025 over 463 exabytes of data will be generated each day globally The sheer volume of data is growing exponentially. Experts have predicted that by 2025 over 463 exabytes of data will be generated each day globally. Not only are we seeing exponential growth in the volume of data, but there is also disparity in the veracity and the variety of data. This is being compounded by the ‘app economy’ in which data is created in a new format for every app added around the globe. Human language technology “The problem is that the data ‘junk’ and the ‘crown jewels’ are in the same bucket, and government and commercial entities need better and faster ways to extract intelligence from these torrents of data,” says Farid Moussa, VP, Strategy & Public Sector, Babel Street. Prior to joining Babel Street, Farid retired from the National Security Agency (NSA). He has guided video, image, speech, and text analytics (VISTA) and developed an appreciation for human language technology. An elusive source of data is the Dark Web, where every user, by design, is attempting to obfuscate their identity, and bad actors are hiding much better. “This presents a cat and mouse game – the cat must be smarter than the mouse, but the mouse is continually getting smarter,” says Moussa. Intelligence tools for data analysis SIGINT and HUMINT – while both vital – are also the most expensive forms of intelligence There are several intelligence tools for analysing data. One of them is signals intelligence (SIGINT), which refers to electronic transmissions collected by ships, planes, ground sites, or satellites. Another is human intelligence (HUMINT), which is collected in a human-to-human fashion. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) is obtained by searching on topics or entities of interest that are publicly available on the Internet at large. Today, these various categories are often done in ‘silos of excellence.’  However, the best practice is using all forms together in a holistic fashion. SIGINT and HUMINT – while both vital – are also the most expensive forms of intelligence, while OSINT, which is growing in importance, is most cost-effective. All are vital forms of intelligence; OSINT is complementary and crucial to holistic intelligence practices. Holistic intelligence practices When it comes to physical security of people and places, OSINT has become a critical source of actionable information. Security directors leverage Publicly Available Information (PAI) to safeguard against threats to individuals, property, travel routes, and event sites. By monitoring PAI, security teams can detect and respond to potential dangers, including during and after events where thorough preparation is vital. Online information can contain warning signs of impending threats. It informs security professionals in uncovering digital traces, confirming intentions, and addressing risks across language barriers, ensuring proactive risk management for the protection of people and property. Role of Natural Language Processing (NLP) The Internet and social media were mostly English language by default, but that has changed exponentially Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a crucial capability that has evolved to recognise the richness and variety of words and names in multiple languages and scripts, and their use across cultures. Using machine learning and linguistics algorithms, the technology simultaneously considers numerous types of name variations. At one time, the Internet and social media were mostly English language by default, but that has changed exponentially.  Babel Street’s world-class entity matching technology measures over 100 features to calculate the similarity of entities across multiple languages. Despite advances in data management and the cloud, there are still multiple challenges and complexities with integration of these data elements. Challenges include spelling variances/phonetics, language translation issues, criminal evasion, human error upon input, typos, etc. Accessing data from a scattered landscape While there have been advancements in cloud technologies, agencies utilising open-source data are typically working within a highly scattered data landscape and must use a wide array of tools to get at the relevant pieces. This fragmentation makes it difficult to run analytics and apply AI and machine learning at scale in order to derive actionable insights.  Unstructured and relationship data are visualised through advanced link analysis As with many disciplines, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the game when it comes to intelligence. NLP and AI algorithms are employed to enhance datasets for greater quality, usability, and completeness. Unstructured and relationship data are visualised through advanced link analysis, geographic heat maps, influential entity carousels, topic clouds, and patterns by time and day. Geographic heat maps The advanced algorithms accurately score and prioritise critical entities within the relationship network while providing the citations from which an AI/ML-based decision was made. “With the democratisation of AI, the world is becoming flat,” says Moussa. “Just like the most prosperous countries, even the poorest countries have the most advanced capabilities to do damage. Third-world economies often present a scenario where the financial gain of nefarious schemes and low-to-no regulation combine to incentivise bad actors.” The Challenges of Name Matching Identity has been an ongoing challenge for intelligence analysis due to the vast complexity of linguistics, spelling and cultural variances, human error, as well as human evasion. Technology and data science approaches are maturing, however machine translation can still struggle with meaning. The best-of-breed natural language processing capabilities run against the data while it still is in its native language. This minimises the occurrence of analytic errors caused by inaccurate machine translations. This minimises the occurrence of analytic errors caused by inaccurate machine translations It’s tempting to think that name matching is like doing a keyword search. The complexity of language makes it more challenging. New names are constantly created, with multiple spellings and no set of rules to encompass how names are formed. They are variable across languages, scripts, cultures, and ethnicities. Culturally specific nicknames and aliases add to the complexity. Replacing human involvement The investigation of the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013 spotlighted an example of the significance of intelligence analysis. Even though the FBI had issued a detain alert for Tamerlan Tsarnaev back in 2011, Tsarnaev managed to travel to Russia in January 2012; and in July 2012, he returned to Boston. He was not detained on either occasion because there were too many names on the lists, and Tsarnaev’s last name had been spelled differently from the way it was on travel documents, thus enabling him to get through security. With the Internet, social media, and the dark web, there’s been an exponential increase in public communications in various languages, adding significantly to the amount of analysis required to keep societies safe. Name matching, using AI, analyses multiple contextual data points across languages to arrive at matches. Name matching, using AI, analyzes multiple contextual data points across languages to arrive at matches A common misconception is that this technology will replace human intelligence. “It’s more accurate to recognise its role as a force-multiplier, allowing humans to focus on the on the harder problems and/or vetting the results of AI,” says Moussa. “The technology can efficiently analyse massive volumes of data and distill it into actionable information in a timely manner. It augments human capabilities, enabling analysis at speed and scale beyond human capacity, without replacing human involvement.” Commercial Technology to the rescue “When it comes to threat and identity intelligence, we face a risk-confidence gap, underscored by the challenge of integrating traditional tactics with the modern digital landscape,” adds Moussa. “We cannot ‘hire’ our way out of this problem. Instead, it is imperative that we adopt technology to scale our efforts and free humans to solve the harder problems that machines cannot solve yet.” The public sector loves to build things, but there are time-to-value and return-on-investment considerations to the ‘build or buy’ decision. When commercial technology can be leveraged by government, it frees resources up to work on problems that the commercial world hasn’t yet figured out, says Moussa. “The public and private sectors need to come together – one team, one nation, working together with mutual trust and collaboration,” he says.

Bournemouth and Poole College, the largest provider of further education and apprenticeships in the Dorset area, has installed Hochiki's ESP addressable fire detection range across its four-storey site, protecting a diverse mix of teaching environments including IT suites, kitchens, workshops and engineering bays. The installation was specified and delivered by SFA Fire and Security, working closely with the college to design a system capable of handling the varied fire risks found across further education provision. Subjects such as catering, automotive maintenance, construction and engineering carry a higher risk of nuisance alarms from dust and fumes, while IT and digital media spaces rely heavily on electrical equipment. A tailored approach was needed to protect the site without interrupting learning. Protecting valuable teaching time ESP's common mounting base allowed SFA's installers to work through the site using a single standard base across most devices, reducing the range of parts held on site and helping installation stay on schedule despite the complexity of the building. In kitchens and workshops, LPCB and VdS approved heat sensors were used to distinguish genuine fire risk from cooking activity and dust, reducing false alarms and protecting valuable teaching time. ESP's textual identifier gives staff the exact location of an activated device, supporting fast and accurate evacuation decisions in a large site with high footfall. Wall-mounted VADs, certified to EN 54-23, added audio and visual alerts throughout the college, ensuring alarms reach staff and students regardless of location or impairment. Where cabling access was limited by drop beams, wireless technology was integrated onto the ESP loop, avoiding extensive drilling and preserving the building's original structure. Successful projects together Naomi Fell, Projects Director at SFA Fire and Security, said: "This project presented numerous challenges due to the complexity of each room and storey within the college. Our extensive experience with Hochiki's products, combined with the consistently positive feedback from our end-users, made Hochiki the clear choice for this project. We met the college's stringent deadlines with minimal disruption to teaching and learning." Ryan Baulcomb, Regional Sales Manager at Hochiki, added: "Hochiki and SFA have a strong, long-term partnership, built on years of successful projects together. This installation shows what that partnership can deliver on a genuinely complex site. We're proud that our products continue to give installers and end-users the reliability and support they expect." Bournemouth and Poole College now benefit from a fire detection system tailored to the specific demands of each corridor, room and storey across the site, with the flexibility to adapt as the college continues to grow.

Security requirements for critical infrastructure are changing rapidly. Recent events, such as the discovery of a drone at Leipzig Airport, have once again demonstrated how quickly modern technologies can become a security challenge. This makes dialogue between industry, authorities and emergency services all the more important. Security Essen, which will take place at Messe Essen from 22 to 25 September 2026, is placing precisely this exchange at the heart of two key programme highlights: the European Drone Conference and the Emergency Services Forum. Unmanned aerial systems open up a wide range of potential applications – from inspecting critical infrastructure to supporting security and emergency services. Protection of critical infrastructure At the same time, they present new challenges for operators of sensitive facilities. The European Drone Conference on 23 and 24 September will therefore bring together experts from the security industry, public authorities, academia and politics to discuss current developments, the regulatory framework and effective protection strategies. The conference is organised by the Drone Expert Committee of the German Security Industry Association (BDSW), together with Security Essen and the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS). Experts discuss drone deployment, detection and countermeasures Around 20 specialist presentations will examine drone technology from various perspectives – ranging from regulatory issues and the protection of critical infrastructure to detection and counter-drone systems. Managing new risks In his statement, Cornelius Toussaint, Vice-President of the BDSW and Chair of the Drone Expert Committee, will focus on security and drone technology in Germany. Marcus Schermann (DB Sicherheit GmbH) will discuss the protection of critical infrastructure, using multicopter operations as an example. Drone management, with a particular focus on detection and countermeasures, is the main theme addressed by the two speakers, Ralf Holstein and André Danner (German Business Protection GmbH). The programme is complemented by presentations on research and development, as well as international keynote speeches from the worlds of politics and the security industry. The central question is how to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the technology whilst effectively managing new risks. Public safety authorities Emergency Services Forum (Blaulichtforum) takes place for the first time In collaboration with Feuerwehr-Magazin (Fire & Rescue Magazine) and Rettungs-Magazin (Emergency Medical Services Magazine), the Emergency Services Forum 2026 will make its debut at Security Essen. On 22 September, the new forum will bring together public safety authorities and organisations (BOS), the security industry and public authorities, focusing on a key question: How are new threat scenarios and technologies changing security and emergency response? On stage, experts from the fire service, police, civil protection, the security industry and defence will discuss current challenges: What role will drones and autonomous systems play in future operations? Shared situational picture How well is Germany prepared for CBRNE incidents and hybrid threats? And how do control centres, communication technologies and networked systems ensure that a shared situational picture emerges in an emergency? The focus will also be on cooperation between civilian and military actors. Specialist conferences included in the trade fair admission ticket Both the European Drone Conference and the Emergency Services Forum will take place directly in Hall 5. Admission is already included in the Security Essen trade fair ticket. Tickets for Security Essen 2026 are available online. A day ticket costs €49. The trade fair is open from 9 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Thursday and from 9 am to 4 pm on Friday.

Paxton’s new Solo system is giving student housing providers a simpler way to manage access at scale. This case study looks at how JPR Fire, Security and Data used the phone-based, cloud-hosted security system to modernise access for around 500 students without the need for network infrastructure. Homes for Students provide 235 student housing properties across the UK and Ireland. JPR Fire, Security and Data provide the security system for the One London Road site in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Access control solution Until recently, the housing was secured using a classic standalone access control solution requiring no network infrastructure. The existing system was becoming difficult to manage, with approximately 500 residents across 5 blocks, including the onsite gym. Registered students gain access by entering a valid access code or presenting their fob. The site managers were continuously replacing lost fobs, creating additional running costs for the system. Mike Gater, Department Manager at JPR Fire, Security and Data, approached the site after attending Paxton’s launch event for Solo; a phone-based, cloud-hosted access control system. Mike saw the opportunity to upgrade the site to a more modern solution. Cost-effective option Solo is a smart, convenient, connected access control system. With the simplicity of standalone and the power of a networked solution; Solo is designed to make access control a simple, cost-effective option where a smartphone is used to administer the system and gain access through the door. With the free Paxton Solo app, the site management team can administer access to the premises from anywhere, via their smartphone. For the students, it means never having to remember an access code or to carry a fob, as they will simply use their phone to gain access to their building. Appropriate access permission When a smartphone with appropriate access permission is presented to a Solo controlled door, the phone communicates to the Solo controller using Bluetooth Low Energy frequency to instruct the door to open. With minimal Wi-Fi on site, the phone uses mobile data to confirm appropriate access permissions are available for that door. Where no network connectivity is available, the credential can be stored on the phone for 3-4 hours, to allow access even if the phone is offline. By running Solo alongside the existing standalone system for a period, students were migrated over to Solo in a phased approach. The access code for the legacy system was changed to prevent access via this means, once all residents were up and running with the Paxton Solo app. Existing standalone system Mike said: “As soon as we saw the Solo introduction, we knew it would be a great fit for our clients at One London Road. The premises have no network infrastructure, so a standalone system was always going to be a requirement. But with approximately 500 students on site, our clients would really benefit from more features of a centralised system.” “We know that Solo is very new, but since it’s a Paxton product, we had faith in it from day one. We know Paxton products are reliable, and if it’s needed, the Paxton team is there to support.” As a Paxton Platinum Partner, JPR Fire, Security and Data have extensive experience with Paxton products, so felt very confident in proposing an innovative solution to meet the requirements of their valued and longstanding client. Network infrastructure requirements Mike continued: “Aside from the benefit of Solo being cloud-based, with no network infrastructure requirements, the other real selling point for our customers was the price. The upfront cost of the Solo kit is very accessible. Even with the ongoing cost of the door subscription, our clients would see a cost saving compared to extending their previous standalone system, as they were constantly replacing lost fobs in significant numbers. They were immediately interested in the new system.” With the introduction of the Solo system on site, One London Road was also able to secure access to the students’ common rooms. Where previously access was available to anyone who had gained entry to the building, Solo ensures that only students in residence with appropriate access permissions can use the space by presenting their phone to the Solo DoorTag. Providing accurate information Tallulah-Mae Moran, General Manager at Homes for Students said: “Paxton’s Solo system has reduced the ongoing costs of replacing fobs and time spent doing this. The ability to see the date and time of who accessed which door is extremely useful for us and allows us to manage the site to a better standard and provides accurate information when investigating issues on site. It also allows us to set users up and manage this remotely rather than provide and collect physical fobs. It has been a worthwhile investment and will continue to be effective in years to come.” JPR Fire, Security and Data intends to continue proposing Solo as a solution for all clients who are in search of a standalone system in the future.

When Brazil’s Taquari River threatens to overflow, the Municipality of Muçum no longer waits and watches—it knows. Using Hikvision’s water-level detection solution, the town gets faster, more accurate insights about the changing water levels in the river. This strengthens emergency responses and helps protect communities across the Taquari Valley. Located in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, the Municipality of Muçum is part of a wider region that has grown up along the Taquari River which runs through this mountainous region. Following relentless rainfall in both 2023 and 2024, the region experienced flooding of historic proportions. The 2024 disaster became the largest natural calamity in the state's recorded history. More than 600,000 people were displaced and infrastructure was damaged across nearly every municipality in the region, according to a report by Médecins Sans Frontières. Extreme weather conditions For the people of Muçum and its neighbouring cities, the focus quickly shifted from reacting to floods to preparing for them more effectively. Previous approaches had relied on manual observation and physical gauges. But such solutions, as they knew only too well, are unable to provide the kind of continuous, integrated, and real-time visibility that is so vital during extreme weather conditions. Instead, they needed to find a more reliable way to monitor river conditions, improve coordination during heavy rainfall, and communicate risks to residents earlier. Specifically, the municipal council of Muçum sought a technology solution that would: Deliver accurate, real-time water-level measurements Maintain operation during severe floods Support automatic alerts and emergency communication Centralise monitoring and historical data analysis Water-level monitoring solution To support these goals, the council worked with system integrator Infosat and distributor Tecline to deploy Hikvision’s intelligent water-level monitoring solution. Hikvision’s 4 MP Water-Level Detection Network Speed Dome (DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL40(F1)(LA)) has been installed on a bridge above the river. Combining video imaging and millimetre-wave radar technology in a single device, the solution allows operators to visually monitor river conditions while simultaneously receiving highly accurate water-level measurements in real time. Preparing nearby communities Unlike traditional gauges positioned close to the water, the radar-based system can measure water levels from distances of up to 40 meters. This elevated installation approach helps ensure continuous operation even during major floods, when conventional equipment may become submerged or damaged. The solution’s millimetre-level precision allows emergency teams to detect even small changes in water levels and receive alerts when predefined thresholds are reached. With earlier visibility into changing conditions, emergency teams gain valuable time to evaluate risks, coordinate response actions, and prepare nearby communities. Challenging lighting environments The device delivers 4 MP high-quality imaging, allowing operators to visually confirm river conditions in real time. Its 120 dB WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) technology helps maintain clear images in challenging lighting environments, while the IP67-rated housing supports reliable outdoor performance during harsh weather. The integrated 4G connectivity and low-power design also simplify deployment in critical monitoring locations. To strengthen public communication, the municipality also deployed five Hikvision Network Horn Speakers (DS-QAZ1325G1T) in higher-risk neighbourhoods. Installed in areas where floodwaters can rise quickly, the speakers broadcast evacuation warnings and emergency notifications when necessary, enabling them to reach residents rapidly and directly. Real-time monitoring The entire solution is centrally managed on HikCentral Professional. Through the platform, operators can: Monitor water-level changes in real time Manage alarms and emergency alerts Review live video feeds remotely Access historical statistics for flood analysis and planning Since the deployment, the Municipality of Muçum has reported an 80% increase in the accuracy of water-level information compared with previous manual readings. Real-time monitoring and automated alerts now help emergency teams respond more proactively while improving communication with residents during critical situations. Mateus Giovanoni Trojan, the former Mayor of Muçum, said: “The Hikvision solution brings us more reliable information and enables us to respond faster. Automatic alerts help our emergency teams act earlier and improve safety for the population.” Creating a smarter foundation The benefits also extend beyond Muçum itself. Data collected from the monitoring system helps support neighbouring municipalities across the Taquari Valley, contributing to regional preparedness efforts that affect around 100,000 residents. “For nearby communities like ours, earlier information can make a huge difference,” said Luis Maya, Emergency Coordinator for the Municipality of Lajeado. “It helps emergency teams react faster and keep people safe.” Today, Muçum’s story is no longer only about overcoming floods; it is about building resilience through technology, coordination, and preparedness. By deploying Hikvision’s AIoT (AI-powered Internet of Things) technologies, the municipality has created a smarter foundation for flood response across the Taquari Valley. As climate challenges continue to evolve, Muçum is showing how AIoT technologies can help communities respond earlier, act faster, and face the future with greater confidence.

Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc., a security technology company pioneering AI-based solutions designed to create safer experiences, announces that Evolv Express®, the company’s people-screening system, has been selected as a security partner in Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field following a rigorous evaluation process. As Ryan Sports Development prepares to open the first NFL-type stadium in college sports, they evaluated available screening solutions before selecting Evolv Express to help deliver an elevated fan security experience. Evolv Express uses advanced sensor technology and AI to detect concealed threats and identify the location of the potential threat while allowing people to move through checkpoints at their natural walking pace. Advanced sensor technology The New Ryan Field, in the final stages of construction, will have a capacity of 35,000 fans when it opens on October 2nd with a nationally televised game. In addition to Northwestern football games, New Ryan Field will also host other athletic and community events throughout the year. The project is designed to set a new standard for the college football experience and boasts several features and innovations fitting its ambitious vision, including the Evolv Express security systems. The multi-year agreement between Evolv and Ryan Sports Development includes a variety of marketing elements and designates Evolv as Northwestern University’s “Official Fan Screening Provider.” Exceptional arrival experience “Our goal for the New Ryan Field is simple: build the best place to watch football in America,” said Pat Ryan Jr., CEO of Ryan Sports Development. “That ambition covers not only the event itself, but also the entire time that a fan is on site. We built a stadium designed to represent the future of college athletics, and so much more, and we rigorously evaluated available screening technologies and selected Evolv Express because it aligned with our goals of delivering a secure, convenient, and exceptional arrival experience.” “When an institution invests in creating what it believes will be the premier college football venue in the country, every decision matters, including the first impression fans receive when they arrive,” said John Kedzierski, President and CEO of Evolv Technology. Ambitious stadium projects “Northwestern had the opportunity to evaluate the industry’s leading screening solutions as part of this landmark project, and we are honoured that Evolv Express was selected to help deliver the elevated fan experience Ryan Field is designed to provide. It’s a testament to the strength of our technology that one of the most ambitious stadium projects in college sports chose Evolv to help welcome fans through its gates.” The New Ryan Field at Northwestern is another signature deployment on Evolv’s growing roster of higher education customers, as well as numerous stadiums, arenas, theme parks, schools, hospitals and other public spaces around the world.

iDenfy, the global RegTech solution provider that delivers identity verification and fraud prevention tools, has implemented Czech Bank iD into its electronic identity verification software. The addition of the new digital ID or non-document verification method for the Czech market gives businesses a native alternative for verifying Czech citizens through their existing bank login credentials, without asking for a physical document during the onboarding process. Czech Bank iD is a nationwide, bank-issued digital identification system introduced in the Czech Republic in 2021. It allows citizens to use their internet banking credentials to authenticate themselves for both e-government and private sector services. Separate identity document The system is currently used by over 5,000,000 internet banking users, which corresponds to an adoption rate of 57% across the Czech Republic with 9 million people. Czech Bank iD runs on the OIDC protocol and operates through a bank delegation model, meaning the verification is confirmed directly by the user’s bank rather than through a separate identity document. iDenfy’s non-document verification platform was built to operate alongside the platform’s standard document-based KYC flow. Businesses can configure the platform to automatically route users to the Czech Bank iD path when traditional document capture is unavailable or produces insufficient image quality, a scenario that iDenfy’s internal data consistently shows as a recurring source of session drop-off. The combined flow is available to all iDenfy clients at no additional cost and can be activated in the dashboard settings without any additional integration work. Additional integration work To perform a successful verification, Czech Bank iD checks the person’s given name, family name, middle name, full name, date of birth, nationality, sex, phone number, and full address details. Where available, it can also return document data, such as document type, number, issue date, expiration date, issuing country and authority. This gives businesses a verification result that is both broad in scope and consistent in structure, since the data is returned directly by the bank network rather than extracted from a scanned image. As defined by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, each of the EU 27 will have to implement the EU Digital Identity Wallet for citizens and residents by the end of 2026. Every bank, payment, and electronic money institution will have to support wallet-based credentials as Strong Customer Authentication measures. Bypassing security controls The Czech Republic has the third-highest risk of cyber fraud globally, according to security firm Gen Digital, which conducted research from Avast, AVG, and Norton companies. Social engineering attacks, a form of psychological manipulation in which criminals trick people into giving up private data, downloading malware, or bypassing security controls, made up 86% of the threats that happened in the country. iDenfy states that for businesses that serve Czech market users, the ability to verify identity through a credential that more than five million adults already use for banking and government access can remove a document capture step that often contributes to onboarding drop-off. It still maintains a secure enough compliance procedure to keep the process trustworthy for both the user and the business so it can validate a real person behind it. Digital identity networks “Czech Bank iD has become one of the most widely trusted digital identity credentials in the Czech Republic. Our clients that serve that market can now meet Czech users on those terms and present a verification path that feels familiar and requires no additional physical document capture at the point of onboarding,” said Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy. It is worth mentioning that iDenfy’s KYC software currently covers over 16,000+ government-issued documents across over 200+ countries and territories. If a case is not resolved automatically, it is reported to iDenfy’s internal compliance review team, which works 24/7 to review identities and fix any onboarding issues. “Czech Bank iD is deeply embedded in how Czech citizens already access banking, government, and private sector services. For our clients, adding Czech Bank iD is not just an onboarding improvement. It is a direct connection to one of Central Europe’s most established digital identity networks,” added Domantas Ciulde. Czech Bank iD support is available now across iDenfy’s identity verification platform.

Like other disciplines in the world of corporate security, executive protection is evolving from reactive to proactive. Unlike reactive bodyguards, modern executive protection professionals use a proactive approach focused on risk mitigation, advance planning, and threat intelligence to prevent incidents before they happen. What is the role of technology? We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How can physical security technology promote better executive protection?

Adequate video surveillance coverage depends entirely on a facility's layout, square footage, and security goals. Historically, better coverage required more cameras, but technology innovations are changing those expectations and undermining previously held rules of thumb. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: Do today's video systems generally require more cameras or fewer cameras, and why?

At mid-year 2026, the broader economy tells a story of resilience under pressure. Conflict in the Middle East has triggered a shock to the energy supply, driving oil prices up and reigniting global inflation. However, a total downturn has been averted. Exceptional, historic levels of business investment and data centre construction are providing a firm floor for growth, offsetting cooler consumer spending and keeping labour markets fundamentally stable. But how are changing economics impacting the physical security market? We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How do changes in the broader economic climate impact physical security?