Summary is AI-generated, newsdesk-reviewed
  • ISC West 2019 opens with keynotes by DHS's William Bryan and Russ Butler.
  • Expanded ISC West program boasts 85+ sessions for cybersecurity, safety, and security professionals.
  • Free Vendor Solution Sessions offer tech demos from Axis, Intel, IBM, and others.

Keynote speakers will kick off ISC West Day 1 and Day 2. Keynote sessions are open to anyone, and ISC West organisers look for speakers with broad-based appeal, either from the government or related to security strategies, standards and measures. Timely and newsworthy topics are included as a means of educating attendees on the best way to protect their own facilities.

On the first day of the exhibition, April 10 at 8:30 a.m., the Keynote Speaker will be William Bryan of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As science and technology advisor for DHS, Bryan leads research, development, innovation and testing and evaluation activities. An Army veteran with 17 years of active military service and three years in the Virginia National Guard, Bryan brings a wealth of experience gained from multiple leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD).

Safeguarding Public At Stadium

Butler has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal FamilyThe Day 2 Keynote, Thursday at 8:30 a.m., will be given by Russ Butler, Vice President of Security for the San Francisco 49ers and Levi’s Stadium. A former Scotland Yard Police Officer, Butler led a team of specially trained and equipped police officers tasked in the 1980s with safeguarding the public at soccer matches throughout the UK during the height of organized soccer violence.

He was also a SWAT Team Leader for Scotland Yard, and has been responsible for the personal security of Prime Ministers, Presidents, and members of the British Royal Family. Butler has been involved in planning and executing notable events such as Super Bowl 50, ‘WrestleMania’ and this year’s College Football Championships.

The ISC West conference program, provided by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and branded SIA Education@ISC, is expanding this year to 85-plus sessions, with something for everyone, whether they are an end user, dealer/installer, consultant, or are focused on a specific vertical market. The conference program speaks to every audience segment at the show.

Enhancing Organization’s Cybersecurity

Attendees will leave the session with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organization’s cybersecurityCybersecurity will be a bigger topic than ever, and among the new speakers will be Johna Johnson, CEO and Founder of Nemertes Research, whose session will enable end user participants to quickly and accurately ‘score’ the maturity of their cybersecurity initiatives. Session participants will use handouts to rate themselves and their current success based on operational metrics, deployment of key ‘bellwether technologies’, and organizational and operational best practices.

Attendees will leave the session, planned for April 9 at 10:15 a.m., with a self-created model including concrete recommendations to enhance their organization’s cybersecurity. Another new speaker will be Hector Alvarez, President of Alvarez Associates, a specialist in workplace violence prevention. His presentation, April 9 at 2:45 p.m., is geared towards security, safety, risk managers and HR staff who are new to threat management/workplace violence, or experienced professionals who can benefit from reviewing the foundational steps.

Addressing Threatening And Concerning Behavior

The sessions, on April 10 and 11, provide exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologiesReal-world vignettes will be reviewed, including those with both negative and positive outcomes. The session will enable attendees to recognize the warning signs of individuals on the pathway towards violence, and to identify a range of intervention and response options to address threatening and concerning behavior.

Free Vendor Solution Sessions are another popular feature of the ISC West conference program. The sessions, on April 10 and 11, held in meeting rooms near the exhibit hall, provide ISC West exhibitors an opportunity to educate and provide demonstrations to their customer base on new technologies.

They are free to any ISC West badgeholders. Some of the sessions attract large attendance, and preregistration is provided. Presenting companies include Axis Communications, StarLink Fire, FireLink FACP, Hikvision, Intel, Verkada, and IBM.

Understand how converged physical and cybersecurity systems can scale protection.

Author profile

Larry Anderson Editor, SecurityInformed.com & SourceSecurity.com

An experienced journalist and long-time presence in the US security industry, Larry is SecurityInformed.com's eyes and ears in the fast-changing security marketplace, attending industry and corporate events, interviewing security leaders and contributing original editorial content to the site. He leads SecurityInformed's team of dedicated editorial and content professionals, guiding the "editorial roadmap" to ensure the site provides the most relevant content for security professionals.

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