At the end of March, professionals in the security industry will gather in Las Vegas for ISC West, to learn, network and discover the latest technologies.

ISC West, taking place 28 – 31 March 2023 (SIA Education@ISC: 28 – 30 March | Exhibit Hall: 29 – 31 March) at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, is the US’ leading comprehensive and converged security trade event. At ISC West, you can explore 600+ exhibitors offering the latest technologies in cybersecurity & connected IoT, access control, alarms & monitoring, video surveillance, drones & robotics and more.

This year’s robust education program will offer 85+ sessions and two high-level keynote addresses. Security Industry Association (SIA) Education@ISC will focus on many key verticals and trends, including brand new content on the most current business trends, technologies and latest developments. Topics include leadership & workforce development, identity management, new technology & automation, unmanned systems, video surveillance, the convergence of physical & cybersecurity and more.

One theme running through ISC West this year will be the convergence of security as companies take a holistic approach to challenges. The Connected IoT area on the show floor will feature cybersecurity to better reflect the type of exhibitors and content offered at ISC West and support attendee demand for cybersecurity related solutions. Not only this, but a few areas on the show floor have also been expanded and redesigned to better reflect the future of the industry.

The Bridge, ISC West’s main stage destination, will unveil a new, elevated look and feel as it spotlights innovation, partner integrations and hosts special award ceremonies. The SIA New Products & Solutions Awards area, sponsored by UPG, will also be transformed. Industry professionals can travel through this innovative space to engage with stand-out products and discover the latest security solutions and new technologies at ISC West.

Another new highlight on the show floor is the Workforce Development & Career Zone. This hub is dedicated to young professionals and next-gen leaders in the security industry. It will hold a variety of workshops and feature a free, professional headshot studio. All industry professionals at ISC West are invited to experience, connect and learn in this area.

Here is a sample of Workforce Development & Career Zone sessions:

How to Meet a Mentor: how do you imagine the future composition of the security industry? Connecting early and mid-career professionals with established industry professionals can accelerate career growth and talent development while encouraging diversity within the ranks. Mentorship, as an informal relationship or structured program, is useful in optimizing potential and is one of the most cost-effective ways to invest in professional development and promote diverse talent. Members of SIA’s Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program will discuss the benefits of mentoring relationships and provide guidance on how to find a mentor to help you grow at any career or experience level.

Workforce Development Executive Briefing: Attracting Talent and Retaining Top Talent: workforce development is regularly identified as one of the top challenges for companies and businesses in the security industry. As industry members embrace more advanced technologies, the education, skill and training demands for their employees increases. This is true all along the supply chain – from manufacturers to distributors to integrators – and applies to varying degrees across many roles. Join members of the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) Board of Directors as they examine current workforce development challenges and present strategies to help companies find and train committed and qualified employees who want to use their abilities in careers that are both productive and purposeful.

Building a Personal Brand: personal branding is all about authenticity and discovering ways to distinguish yourself as a professional in today’s competitive marketplace. There are many ways to use your strengths to create your own unique value proposition. Participate in candid conversations with two personal brand ambassadors and discover how to create a personal brand that reflects your likes, interests, values and personality. Set your business apart by communicating your viewpoints, building a consistent presence and visual identity and optimizing industry influence and engagement through deliberate content creation that aligns with your brand.

What We’ve Learned Along the Way: Career Advice From the Girls, For the Girls: women, at various times in their careers, all experience hurdles that leave them unsure of who to turn to, what to do next or how to make the best decision. The ISC West all-female panel is here to help! This panel will offer shared experiences and advice from the girls for the girls. Their mission is to help those in the industry best navigate challenges you may face in your career and find your work-life balance. Join as they share their best stories, biggest challenges, greatest successes, toughest decisions and how they made them. The panel will also share the best advice they’ve received along the way from mentors and educational and self-improvement resources they have found most helpful. They will challenge you to find and be your best self. So, bring your questions, your thoughts and your challenges and let’s work to grow, change and succeed as women in the security industry.

Additionally, while at ISC West, industry professionals can participate in a plethora of networking opportunities, appreciation parties and award ceremonies. Check out a few must-attend industry events below!

Tuesday 28 March

The FAST Golf Classic Tournament

The FAST Golf Classic Tournament is an annual golf outing held during ISC West. It allows industry professionals to network and golf as they support vital industry initiatives. Funds raised through the tournament will be funneled into initiatives that support workforce development efforts to attract more qualified talent to a growing and evolving industry. Come network with the movers and shakers of the industry and join for a fun, guilt-free day of golf.

Wednesday 29 March

The SAMMY Awards & Hall of Fame

Security Sales & Integration hosts the 28th SAMMY Awards, honoring dealers and integrators for their sales, marketing, business and installation excellence. Grand prizes will be given for Integrated Installation of the Year, Installer of the Year and Integrated Marketing Program of the Year. Best Social Media Campaign, Community Outreach Program and Vehicle Graphics Design are among the other award categories. The presentation will also include the induction of six new members into the SSI Industry Hall of Fame, along with recognizing the 2023 Ring of Honor recipient.

SIA New Products & Solutions Awards Ceremony

The SIA New Products + Solutions Awards reflects the security industry’s evolution to include offerings beyond solely hardware and software while still retaining the longstanding and highly respected SIA NPS brand. Since its inception in 1979, SIA NPS has been the security industry’s premier product awards program. New products and solutions are reviewed by a panel of judges with extensive industry experience and entrants compete for awards in 36 categories and the prestigious Best New Product and Judges’ Choice awards.

SIA OSDP All Access

Get the “all access” VIP treatment at SIA’s OSDP All Access event during ISC West 2023! Join the access control community for an exclusive opportunity to meet the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) stars involved with this prominent standard. Meet and network with industry leaders, integrators, consultants, practitioners and end users over food and drinks as you learn about the opportunities to participate in this growing group. Whether you are an OSDP expert or this is the first you have heard of OSDP, swing by this end-of-day event to unwind and learn more about all things OSDP.

Thursday 30 March

Mission 500 Security 5K Run/2K Walk

Register to run or walk for a child in need and start fundraising to make a difference while you’re at ISC West. Funds raised will be used to benefit children in need across the country.

ISC West Latin American Breakfast

All Latin-American attendees are invited to join ALAS for a continental breakfast. Trends and technologies that will lead the future of the security industry will be discussed.

Recovering From a Cyber Incident, sponsored by Security Specifiers

Best practices for recovering from a cyber incident start with actions taken long before an incident happens. How should data and facility redundancies be provisioned – hardware, software, cloud? Have policies, plans and procedures been evolved, tested and kept current? Have response personnel been identified and prepared for their roles in a disaster event? A business impact analysis (BIA) assesses the enterprise’s ability to recover from a disaster and should form the basis for a contingency or business continuity plan. What needs to happen in the 48 hours immediately following an incident? This panel will examine elements of preparation and recovery, providing consultants with a basis for further discussions with their clients.

Friday 31 March

SIA Women in Security Forum Networking Breakfast, Power 100 Celebration and Keynote

Join the SIA Women in Security Forum (WISF) members for a free networking breakfast on the ISC West show floor. Connect with other leaders and champions for diversity and then help to recognize and celebrate the 2023 SIA WISF Power 100 program recipients.

Register for ISC West at: http://iscwest23.com/SJA

This article was originally published in the March edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.