Secured Presents: XPod from The Security Event
Episode 1 of 3: Identity Is the Center, Hardware Is the Floor

At The Security Event in Birmingham, the hardware was everywhere. Readers, controllers, locks, cameras, cabling, power, fencing, and everything else you would expect to see on a security show floor.

But the conversations were not centered on the hardware.

They were centered on people, policies, platforms, identity, governance, and the data layer connecting it all.

In this first episode of XPod, Lee Odess breaks down what we heard from operators, manufacturers, platform leaders, and security voices across the show floor. The industry conversation is moving from the door to the person, from hardware to identity, and from feature-led selling to use-case-driven value.

This episode explores:

-Why identity is becoming the center of access control
-How governance is changing the buyer conversation
-Why platforms are becoming more important than individual devices
-How regulation is pulling more organizations into identity-first security
-What manufacturers need to understand about the shift from hardware to software
-Why the future of physical security is about more than the door

You'll hear from:
Jamie McMillen | Suprema
Carter Kennedy | SoloInsight
Paola Martin del Campo | Envoy
Zak Habgood | ID-ware
Mike Maxsenti | Genea
Steven Riley | Comelit-PAC
Andy Milton | Iseo
Saul Martinenas | Midpoint / CredoID
Stefan Aimer | System House Solutions
Dominic Bruning | HID

The hardware still matters. It is still the floor.

But the center of gravity has moved.

Be sure to watch the Intro episode so you miss miss out on the full story!

Episode 2: Regulation is not the tax, it is the moat.

Stay tuned.

Welcome to Secured, where we dive into the intricacies of our industry. This week, we explore the difference between intimacy and attention, a key aspect of relationships in any business. Due to the holidays, this episode offers a different take on the usual business transformation discussions, moving away from live news to focus on deeper industry insights.

Chapters
0:00 Intro and Weekly Update
0:40 Core Beliefs for the Security Industry
2:20 Audience vs Community and Intimacy
3:55 The Power of Audio and Physical Badges
5:05 Preparing for Autonomous AI Security
6:40 Upcoming Events and Global Updates

Are you ready to be part of the change? Join the PhySec Collective Slack community today to connect with industry leaders and make sure to subscribe for more weekly insights into the world of physical security.

This episode explores how the security industry's operating model is becoming the product, a key aspect of enterprise transformation. We examine the shift in business model and organizational structure that is currently underway. These CEO insights shed light on achieving operational excellence in a rapidly changing landscape. Chapters 0:00 Introduction: Is the Industry Getting the Flu? 0:25 Ambient AI and the Self-Validating Operating Model 1:55 Aura: Global Operations and Software-First Scaling 3:15 The Cursor Effect: AI Agents in Access Control Configuration 6:30 Gallup 2026: The Manager Engagement Crisis 8:50 Security Film Transparency and Physical Zero Trust 11:15 Is the Security Industry About to Catch the Flu? 13:45 DHI All Access and the Aliro Tech Stack Refresh 15:30 Supporting the FAST Foundation and ISC West Interviews 16:36 End Stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to our channel and joining over 1,600 members in the PhySec Collective Slack community for real-time industry debate. 🤝

Welcome to Secured Presents: XPod from The Security Event. Over two days in Birmingham, we set up a microphone and asked 40+ people across the physical security and access control industry the same four questions. What came back was not just a set of interviews. It was a chorus. This intro episode sets up the three stories we’ll be telling across the XPod series, built from voices on the floor at The Security Event. The conversations move through identity, hardware, regulation, interoperability, and the question this industry keeps circling: Is this our mainstream moment? Featuring: Gregory Alcorn, Acre Tony Scaddan, SwiftConnect Ellie Baldwin, WaveStore Matthew Uttley, DeterTech Adam Savage, Barkers Security Engineering Auston Bunsen, AccessGrid Frederik Hemberg, OSS Association This is not a booth recap. It is the floor treated as a research surface. Watch the intro to see where the series is headed. Subscribe for more episodes from Secured Presents: XPod from The Security Event.

The physical security landscape is undergoing a massive transformation as we move from hardware-centric models to software-driven vertical solutions. In this episode of Secured, Lee Odess explores how verticalized moats and AI-integrated APIs are setting the stage for the next era of access control.

Chapters 0:00 Intro and Episode Overview 0:35 Outpost and Vertical Security Moats 2:48 Brivo Agent-Friendly APIs and AI Integration 4:32 Physical Access and Government Standards 6:47 Building Pathways for Future Security Talent 8:44 A Response to Industry Tactics and Personal Attacks 11:55 ISC West Updates and Community Call to Action

Stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to the Secured podcast and joining over 1,600 industry professionals in the PhySec Collective Slack. Check the links in our bio to read the full security breakdown articles mentioned in this episode and stay connected with the people building what is next.

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Dallan Labrum, EVP of Sales at Prodatakey. In this episode, we dive into: • How access control is evolving for the next generation of users • The role of cloud-native systems in simplifying deployment • Why ease of use is becoming a key differentiator • And how customer expectations are shifting toward faster, more flexible solutions This conversation explores how modern platforms are challenging traditional approaches to access control. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Are modern access control systems finally becoming simple enough for mass adoption?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations.

In this episode, we’re joined by Scott Harkins, VP of Sales at Resideo. In this episode, we dive into:

• Market consolidation across the security industry • How legacy brands evolve in changing environments • The role of distribution and channel strategy • And how companies position themselves through transition

This conversation looks at how the market is shifting and what that means for competition.

This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion.

Let us know in the comments: Is consolidation helping or hurting innovation?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Allen Ganz, Head of Sales & Strategy at RealSense. In this episode, we dive into: • How depth sensing is changing biometric and identity applications • Why accuracy matters in real-world deployment • Where biometric technology is creating new possibilities • And what still needs to happen for broader market adoption This conversation looks at the next layer of identity verification and the role perception plays in trust. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: What’s the biggest barrier to biometric adoption today?