Mobile Access Trends

What is the role of ethical hacking in physical security?
What is the role of ethical hacking in physical security?

In the world of cybersecurity, ethical hacking proactively identifies security vulnerabilities before malicious actors (i.e., unethical hackers) can exploit them. By simulating real-world attacks, organisations can strengthen defences, protect sensitive data, and maintain public trust. In the physical security world, ethical hacking can transform cybersecurity of security systems from a reactive struggle into a strategic safeguard. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the role of ethical hacking as it relates to physical security?

What is the next generation of physical security solutions?
What is the next generation of physical security solutions?

Next-generation (Next-Gen) technologies are products, services, or infrastructures that represent a significant leap forward rather than a small, incremental update. In the physical security industry, NextGen products are those that enable disruptive change, breakthrough performance, and a fundamental change that renders previous products obsolete. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the next generation of physical security solutions, and how will they change the industry?

How are security systems transitioning from reactive to proactive?
How are security systems transitioning from reactive to proactive?

Emphasising proactive rather than reactive security shifts the focus from dealing with crises and damage control to prevention. Advantages of a proactive approach include cost efficiency, better business continuity, and fewer crises that draw attention away from strategic improvements. Staying ahead of threats is a core mission of the security department, and technology has evolved to enable security professionals to deliver on that mission better than ever. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How are security systems transitioning from reactive to proactive, and what is the benefit?

HID highlights digital transformation, futureproofing among access trends
HID highlights digital transformation, futureproofing among access trends

Multiple technology trends are transforming the physical access control market. There is a fundamental shift away from physical cards and keys toward digital identities — mobile credentials, digital wallets, biometrics, and cloud-native access platforms. These next generation access solutions are radically reshaping how buildings operate, protect staff, and perform functionally. At the same time, AI and analytics solutions are being layered onto these physical access control systems to support predictive threat detection and behavioural insights. Access data itself is becoming an asset for sustainability, space optimisation, and smart building initiatives. Risk, impact operations and experience The annual HID Global Security and Identity Trends Report highlights these and other issues The annual HID Global Security and Identity Trends Report highlights these and other issues. The survey cites improving user convenience as a priority for nearly half of organisations, while 41% are focused on simplifying administration, and 28% struggle with system integration. These are not theoretical challenges, they are day‑to‑day friction points that add cost, increase risk, impact operations and experience, and, of course, must be addressed. HID Global’s commercial focus HID Global’s commercial focus is to help organisations digitise their access control — with mobile identities, biometrics, and cloud platforms — and then to use the data to deliver more value. “We are turning access control from an operational cost into a software-driven asset that improves efficiency, supports Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals and even creates new revenue opportunities,” says Steven Commander, HID Global’s Head of Consultant Relations. The impact of digital transformation Digital transformation is the method of moving access control from hardware and physical credentials Digital transformation is in the process of moving access control from hardware and physical credentials to a software-driven, integrated experience. The transformation strengthens security while also improving user convenience — transforming the “pavement to the desk” journey. HID enables this shift through mobile credentials, biometrics, cloud-native platforms, and solutions that allow third-party applications to run on door hardware. “This helps customers turn access data into operational and commercial outcomes, while also improving the overall user experience,” says Commander.  Digital transformation in access control is not focused on chasing the latest trends. Rather, transformation is about turning software, data and integration into outcomes that matter to customers, says HID. “Security becomes stronger and more adaptive,” says Commander. “Operations become simpler and more cost‑effective. Experiences become seamless and consistent. Sustainability moves from ambition to action. And the financial case becomes clearer as efficiencies are banked and new value streams emerge.” The challenge of futureproofing with long lifecycles Given that physical security technologies will be in place for 15 to 20 years, it is important to plan for how systems can evolve over time. Considering how rapidly security threats, compliance standards, and user expectations change, 15 to 20 years is a long time. The decisions made at the beginning of a system’s lifecycle can either limit flexibility later (which will be costly) or enable long-term adaptability. Support for open standards such as Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) is therefore important Choosing products and platforms that are open, interoperable, and designed for updates can enable future-proof projects. Support for open standards such as Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) is therefore important.  In addition, systems built on open controller platforms — such as Mercury — enable organisations to switch software providers or expand functionality without replacing core door hardware. Architectural openness is key to system lifecycles and maximising the return on investment (ROI) from a chosen solution. Digital credentials and mobile access Flexibility and upgradeability should also be top of mind when it comes to endpoints like access control readers. While RFID cards are still commonplace, there is a clear trend toward digital credentials and mobile access. Readers that support both allow organisations to transition at their own pace, without committing to a full system overhaul. A long system lifecycle does not mean technology should remain static. Security, particularly cybersecurity, demands more frequent updates. Technologies that support firmware upgrades in the field extend the value of a deployment while helping organisations keep pace with emerging threats. In that sense, lifecycle thinking is not just about longevity — it’s about maintaining resilience and readiness over time. Applying biometrics and mobile identities Biometrics is becoming mainstream as a credential alternative, strengthening security without adding friction Biometrics is becoming mainstream as a credential alternative, strengthening security without adding friction. Many organisations are now deploying biometrics to support fast, seamless access journeys, with adoption already around 39% in access control according to HID’s recent research.  In addition, 80% of organisations surveyed expect to deploy mobile identities within the next five years. Full technology integration enables tap‑to‑access without opening an app; the user journey becomes faster, safer, and more convenient. “It is where the industry is headed and we are at the vanguard of this,” says Commander.    Ongoing challenge of cybersecurity At HID Global, cybersecurity is embedded into everything, from corporate processes and development practices to the solutions they bring to market. “Our approach ensures that customers can strengthen their overall security posture, not only by deploying secure products but by benefitting from HID’s commitment to the highest industry standards,” says Commander. HID holds multiple globally recognised certifications, including ISO 27001, ISO 14298, SOC Type 2 and CSA STAR, which demonstrate their robust information security and cloud security practices. In addition, HID’s SEOS® secure chipset is independently SEAL-certified, providing one of the most advanced levels of protection available on the market today. “Ultimately, this means organisations are not just purchasing isolated secure products; they are implementing solutions developed and delivered within a comprehensive, cybersecure framework,” says Commander. “When deployed according to best practices, HID solutions enable customers to achieve the highest levels of resilience against evolving physical and cyber threats.” Developing green and sustainable solutions A huge amount of waste is generated from the manufacture of plastic RFID access cards Digital credentials align with the sustainable solutions that everyone wants. A huge amount of waste is generated from the manufacture of plastic RFID access cards. Over 550 million access cards are sold annually. This creates 2,700 tons of plastic waste and 11,400 tons of carbon, based on a PVC card weighing 5 grams.  Therefore, digital credentials self-evidently reduce the reliance on plastic cards (helping reduce carbon emissions by up to 75% according to HID’s research), while leveraging access control system data supports energy optimisation by shutting down or reducing systems in unused spaces. Energy use and CO₂ emissions can be cut dramatically, showing how access systems can contribute to sustainability goals and green building certification. What is the latest in smart buildings? Smart buildings increasingly rely on mobile access control as the backbone for digital services. Real-time access data enables new services such as automated room bookings, HVAC control, lift/elevator calling, e-bike hiring, and so on. Smart buildings increasingly rely on mobile access control as the backbone for digital services The financial upside is clear; smart, digitally transformed buildings can deliver around 8% higher yields per square foot versus traditional office space. Operational savings accrue from reduced administration, the removal of card production and shipping, and lighter IT support. This creates a value cycle — better experiences drive adoption, adoption fuels monetisation, and monetisation funds further improvements. Achieving technology impact in the real world One standout project is One Bangkok – a $3.9 billion mixed used development in Thailand – which demonstrates the scale of what can be achieved when access control data is used for optimisation, particularly when it comes to monitoring facilities usage and occupier behaviours. By switching lights off or lowering the temperature in unused rooms, for example, the One Bangkok building demonstrates this potential with a 22% reduction in energy consumption, saving 17,000 MWh and 9,000 tons of CO₂ annually.  Sustainability is a key factor in contributing to how properties are valued. And sustainability extends far beyond digital credentials having a lower environmental impact than plastic cards.  Buildings with recognised sustainability certifications often command rental premiums of around 6%, and three‑quarters of security decision‑makers now consider environmental impact in their procurement assessments.

Latest Access control news

Invicti agentic pentest: AI-powered security testing
Invicti agentic pentest: AI-powered security testing

Invicti Security, a pioneer in web application and API security, announces Invicti Agentic Pentest, a new approach to penetration testing that combines autonomous AI reasoning with Invicti's industry-pioneer proof-based Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST). Built on more than 20 years of application security expertise, Invicti autonomously discovers, validates, and reports exploitable vulnerabilities, enabling organisations to conduct deeper security testing without the delays, costs, and scalability limitations of traditional manual penetration testing. Modern development teams Modern development teams release new code daily, while traditional penetration tests remain expensive, manual, and point-in-time. AI-only approaches improve automation but often incur significant compute costs by applying frontier models across every stage of testing. Invicti addresses both challenges by combining autonomous AI with proof-based DAST. "The future of application security isn't about using more AI. It's about using AI more intelligently," said Neil Roseman, CEO of Invicti Security. "Many emerging solutions rely on large AI models throughout the entire penetration testing process. We believe there's a better way. Hybrid agentic pentesting combines autonomous AI reasoning with Invicti's proven proof-based DAST technology, applying each where it delivers the greatest value. That architecture enables faster, more cost-effective penetration testing while maintaining the deterministic validation enterprise security teams require." Deterministic security testing The hybrid approach combines the strengths of autonomous AI with deterministic security testing. Specialised AI agents reason about application behaviour, identify attack paths, and adapt testing strategies in real time, while Invicti's proof-based DAST engine applies a vast library of fast, reliable deterministic heuristics that are blended into a single report. Rather than relying on frontier AI models for every stage of testing, Invicti uses autonomous reasoning selectively, while relying on Invicti's proven DAST engine for simpler, established vulnerabilities. This hybrid architecture delivers the depth of agentic AI testing faster, with lower total cost, and with high-confidence findings that developers can immediately reproduce and remediate. Holistic attack strategy Invicti Agentic Pentest implements a proprietary reconnaissance engine; it maps an application's attack surface, analyses authentication flows, and builds a contextual understanding of application behaviour before generating customised attack plans. When source code is available, Invicti incorporates code-level context to create tailored attack payloads while continuing to validate every confirmed finding from an external attacker's perspective. Then, Invicti orchestrates specialised AI agents that operate in parallel across multiple vulnerability classes, including SQL injection, remote code execution, cross-site scripting, server-side request forgery, XML external entity injection, insecure deserialisation, path traversal, NoSQL injection, and other attack techniques. An app-specific agent then synthesises reconnaissance and assessment findings into a holistic attack strategy that mirrors experienced pentesters, including multi-stage attacks. Uncovered exploitable conditions During early-access deployments, Invicti Agentic Pentest identified complex attack paths and business logic vulnerabilities that traditional automated scanning alone would not have uncovered. By reasoning over proof-based DAST findings and adapting its testing strategy in real time, Invicti uncovered exploitable conditions while validating every reported vulnerability with concrete evidence. "We were impressed by what Invicti uncovered beyond traditional scanning. It connected findings, reasoned through the application, and identified attack paths our existing tools hadn't exposed. More importantly, their finds came with evidence our team quickly validated and fixed." Modern software development Invicti Agentic Pentest integrates with existing application security workflows, enabling organisations to replace or augment manual penetration testing with autonomous assessments that fit naturally into modern software development. Each assessment includes: Autonomous reconnaissance and adaptive attack planning Specialised AI agents targeting distinct vulnerability classes Validated findings with proof of exploitability Human-readable penetration testing reports with executive and technical summaries Detailed reproduction steps, payloads, and remediation guidance Enterprise controls including scope enforcement, rate limiting, role-based access, and isolated execution environments Enterprise-scale penetration testing As the first capability released under Invicti's agentic offensive security approach, Agentic Pentest helps organisations accelerate remediation, reduce manual testing costs, expand security coverage, and validate the security of rapidly changing web and API applications. By combining intelligent exploration with deterministic validation, organisations gain faster assessments and a more efficient path to enterprise-scale penetration testing than approaches that rely exclusively on frontier AI models.

Pyronix: Innovation & strategy under CEO Kenny
Pyronix: Innovation & strategy under CEO Kenny

Pyronix has announced the appointment of Laurence Kenny as its Chief Executive Officer and sets out its ambitions for the next phase of its development. Founded in 1986, Pyronix has built a strong reputation in the security industry, through four decades of development, expertise and close partnerships with professional installers, distributors and customers. As Chief Executive Office, Laurence will be responsible for leading Pyronix’s overall strategy and operations, building on the company’s long-established heritage while accelerating innovation, strengthening customer relationships, and identifying new opportunities for growth. Real world customer challenges Commenting on his appointment, Laurence said: “It is a huge privilege to become Chief Executive Office at Pyronix, at such an important point in the company’s history. Over the last 40 years, Pyronix has earned a respected position through quality, innovation, and reliability.” “That heritage has given us a strong foundation, but our focus is firmly on the future. The security market continues to evolve and change at an accelerating rate. This creates opportunity for the business when we can combine our expertise and people, with dependable, reliable and forward-looking products that solve real world customer challenges.” Long-term strategic direction “I am committed, alongside everyone at Pyronix, to looking to the future and building an ambitious, innovative and responsive business for its next 40 years.” With over 14 years’ experience at Pyronix and in the security industry, Laurence steps into the role after serving as Product Director, having previously led the company's Marketing function.   With extensive experience across Pyronix, he has played a key role in shaping product strategy, brand and long-term strategic direction. His appointment marks the next stage in the business’ development, ensuring continuity while positioning the business for future growth. As Pyronix marks its 40th anniversary, Laurence will lead the business into its next era, focusing on solutions that deliver practical benefits for professional installers and the customers they protect.

ASSA ABLOY acquires Gunnebo for entrance solutions
ASSA ABLOY acquires Gunnebo for entrance solutions

ASSA ABLOY has signed an agreement to acquire Gunnebo Entrance Control, an international provider of entrance control solutions, including speed gates, mass transit gates and security revolving doors. "I look forward to welcoming the Gunnebo Entrance Control team to ASSA ABLOY. This acquisition delivers on our strategy to strengthen our position in mature markets through adding complementary products and solutions to our core business,” says Nico Delvaux, President and CEO of ASSA ABLOY. Reliable and efficient entrance solutions “Gunnebo Entrance Control’s well-established entrance control portfolio, strong team, and deep industry expertise will enhance and complement our current offering in pedestrian access solutions,” says Massimo Grassi, Executive Vice President of ASSA ABLOY and Head of Entrance Systems Division. “By adding talented people, strong expertise, and innovative solutions, we will further strengthen our ability to support customers with secure, reliable and efficient entrance solutions.” Formed in 1995, with a history dating back to 1764, the company has around 670 employees. The company is headquartered in Maresfield, UK, with manufacturing sites across Europe, the US and Asia. Gunnebo Entrance Control will be part of the Business Segment Pedestrian within the Entrance Systems Division. Sales for 2025 amounted to about MEUR 151 (approx. MSEK 1,670) with a good EBIT margin. The acquisition will initially have a small dilutive effect on EPS. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the fourth quarter of 2026.

Inner Range enhances inception touchscreen with V2.5
Inner Range enhances inception touchscreen with V2.5

Inner Range releases Inception Touchscreen V2.5, delivering a range of enhancements designed to improve the user experience, strengthen operational awareness and simplify support for system owners and installers. This update builds on the growing capabilities of the Inception Touchscreen, introducing smarter alarm feedback and integrated user help screens. A key highlight of V2.5 is the introduction of installer contact information directly within the touchscreen interface, allowing site users to quickly identify and contact their security provider when assistance is required. Complementing this are new contextual help options within the Health, Notifications and Emergency sections, giving users immediate access to guidance and support resources. Installer contact information To improve situational awareness and response times, V2.5 introduces distinct audible tones for Entry Delay, Exit Delay and Alarm events. By assigning a unique sound to each state, users can identify the status of the system without viewing the display, reducing confusion during critical situations. The release also expands visibility of alarm activity, with enhanced notifications that now display when alarms have been cancelled or aborted, providing clearer insight into system activity and alarm handling at the touchscreen. V2.5 introduces new power optimisation capabilities, allowing the touchscreen to intelligently manage Wi-Fi connectivity, display brightness and sound settings to improve overall efficiency. Reducing accidental activations The update also delivers a series of interface refinements, including improved navigation, enhanced area selection screens, updated settings pages and stronger data validation throughout. Emergency activation functions have been streamlined with automatic reset functionality to improve usability and reduce accidental activations. "The Inception Touchscreen has quickly become a popular user interface option for Inception systems due to its intuitive design and modern user experience," said Steve Mitchell, Director of Product, Inner Range. "Version 2.5 continues that evolution by making the touchscreen easier to use, easier to support and more informative for end users while improving overall system resilience." User interface experience Key highlights: Installer contact details stored directly on the touchscreen Built-in contextual help for Health, Notification and Emergency screens Unique audible tones for Entry Delay, Exit Delay and Alarm events Alarm notifications now display cancelled and aborted statuses New power optimisation features for Wi-Fi, brightness and sound management Enhanced navigation, settings and user interface experience

Access control applications

Dahua tech boosts safety for Viação Brígida fleet
Dahua tech boosts safety for Viação Brígida fleet

Viação Santa Brígida partnered with Dahua Technology to improve the safety and efficiency of its bus fleet in São Paulo, Brazil. The integrated solution enables real-time monitoring, reduces blind spots, supports passenger counting and fare-evasion control, and helps operators respond to incidents more effectively. Overview - Viação Santa Brígida is a major operator serving São Paulo with a fleet of more than 650 buses. To improve fleet supervision, passenger and driver safety, and operational visibility, the client partnered with Dahua Technology to deploy an intelligent mobile video surveillance and fleet management solution featuring onboard cameras, passenger counting, vehicle tracking, and centralised real-time monitoring. Potential safety risks Challenges - Managing hundreds of buses operating across a densely populated metropolitan area requires continuous coordination and reliable access to operational information. Viação Santa Brígida needed a more effective way to monitor its vehicles in real time and respond rapidly to incidents. Limited visibility inside and around buses made it difficult for the company to verify events, identify potential safety risks, and support drivers during daily operations. Blind spots around large vehicles also presented a concern, particularly during passenger boarding, manoeuvring, and interactions with pedestrians and other road users. Assessing vehicle occupancy The company additionally needed better tools to address fare evasion and monitor passenger movement. Without centralised and accurate data, assessing vehicle occupancy, reviewing suspicious activity, and identifying possible revenue losses could be time-consuming. Another priority was improving the efficiency of fleet management. Information from individual vehicles had to be consolidated and made readily accessible to the operations team, enabling managers to make faster, better-informed decisions. Centralised management software Solutions - Working with Dahua Technology, Viação Santa Brígida deployed an integrated mobile video surveillance solution combining strategically positioned onboard cameras, intelligent analytics, vehicle information, and centralised management software. Cameras installed inside the buses provide continuous recording and real-time monitoring of passenger areas. This allows the operations team to review incidents, observe passenger movement, and obtain reliable video evidence when necessary. The system also helps identify cases of fare evasion, supporting the protection of company revenue and improving operational control. Passenger-counting capabilities External cameras give drivers a more complete view of the areas surrounding each vehicle. By reducing blind spots, the solution helps drivers see pedestrians, passengers, and other nearby road users more clearly throughout the journey. This is particularly valuable during boarding and disembarking, when people may be positioned close to the vehicle or outside the driver’s direct field of vision. The deployment also incorporates intelligent passenger-counting capabilities. By automatically analysing boarding activity, the system provides more accurate information about passenger volumes, vehicle occupancy, and potential discrepancies associated with revenue collection. Comprehensive view of fleet activity All information is brought together at Viação Santa Brígida’s Integrated Control Center, where operators can monitor the fleet through a video wall and Dahua’s mobile management software. The platform consolidates live and recorded video with vehicle location and operational information, giving the control team a clearer and more comprehensive view of fleet activity. The centralised system also supports the identification and investigation of unusual events. When an incident occurs, operators can access the relevant vehicle information and video footage, helping the company evaluate the situation and take appropriate action more efficiently. Continuous video monitoring Results - Dahua’s integrated mobile video surveillance solution has significantly improved Viação Santa Brígida’s fleet visibility by enabling continuous video monitoring, more accurate passenger counting, stronger fare-evasion control, and faster incident verification. External cameras also reduce blind spots, helping drivers operate more safely during daily journeys and passenger boarding. By centralising video, location, and operational data in the Integrated Control Center, the company can analyse events more quickly and make better-informed decisions. Overall, the collaboration between Viação Santa Brígida and Dahua Technology has delivered a safer, more transparent, and more efficient approach to public transportation management, benefiting the company, its employees, and the thousands of passengers who rely on its services each day. “Today, we can continuously monitor the cameras installed across our buses and provide our managers with more accurate operational information. Dahua’s technology helps us control fare evasion, improve safety for drivers and passengers, and manage our fleet with much greater efficiency and confidence,” says a representative from Viação Santa Brígida.

ZeroEyes AI enhances security at USD 204 schools
ZeroEyes AI enhances security at USD 204 schools

ZeroEyes, creators of the multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, announces that its AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness platform has been deployed by Kansas’ Bonner Springs–Edwardsville USD 204 to protect students and faculty against gun-related violence. USD 204 serves more than 2,400 PreK–12 students with 455 staff members across a network of schools in the suburban communities of Kansas City, Bonner Springs, and Edwardsville, including one high school, one middle school, three elementary schools, and two pre-K buildings. ZeroEyes complements the district’s multilayered security plan, which also includes school resource officers (SROs), secured entrances, and close, ongoing collaboration with local law enforcement agencies across all three communities.  Situational awareness platform The district secured funding through the Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program, administered by the Office of the Kansas Attorney General, to purchase and implement ZeroEyes. “Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is at the core of everything we do,” said Lisa Terrell, Director of Education Foundation & Counseling Services. “The deployment of ZeroEyes is a natural extension of our district’s proactive, layered approach to security, enhancing the strong foundation we’ve built through trusted partnerships with local law enforcement, secure facilities, and dedicated personnel.” Digital security cameras ZeroEyes' AI gun detection and intelligent situational awareness software layers onto existing digital security cameras. If a gun is identified, images are instantly shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Center (ZOC), the industry's only U.S.-based, fully in-house operation centre, which is staffed 24/7/365 by specially trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans. If these experts determine the threat is valid, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence — including visual description, gun type, and last known location — to law enforcement and local security teams, often in a matter of seconds from the moment a gun is detected. “Thanks to the Office of the Kansas Attorney General, we can provide an added level of confidence for USD 204’s families and community with ZeroEyes,” said Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder of ZeroEyes. “It's great to see the district reinforce its commitment to creating a safe, supportive environment where every student can thrive.”

AI weapon detection system at MLK community healthcare
AI weapon detection system at MLK community healthcare

Athena Security, a physical security and threat detection company specialising in AI-powered weapons detection systems, announced today they are working with MLK Community Healthcare, a non-profit healthcare system in South L.A., to improve security measures at their hospital. MLK Community Healthcare is utilising Athena’s Apollo 500 Weapons Detection System, an Al-driven walk-through concealed weapon detection system designed for busy entrances, such as those at hospitals and healthcare facilities. “Everyone deserves to feel safe going to work every day. Likewise, patients and their loved ones should feel at ease when seeking care at their local healthcare facility," said Lisa Falzone, Athena Security co-founder and president. Threat detection company Lisa Falzone, Athena Security’s co-founder and president, said the device offers peace of mind to healthcare providers and patients alike at a time when violence in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is rising across the country. “Everyone deserves to feel safe going to work every day. Likewise, patients and their loved ones should feel at ease when seeking care at their local healthcare facility,” Falzone said. “By leveraging our expertise in the security space and utilising emerging technology like AI, we’ve created a weapons detection system platform that is potentially saving lives while creating less disruption in the day-to-day activities at healthcare facilities.” Automated weapon detection systems The move comes ahead of a new AB 2975 California law requiring hospitals and certain other healthcare facilities to have automated weapon detection systems at key entrances. “When it came time to comply with California’s AB 2975 workplace violence prevention requirements and implement a weapons detection solution, we conducted an extensive evaluation of the available systems. Athena’s Apollo 500 Healthcare Weapons Detection System stood out as the best overall value, combining effective weapons detection with the operational capabilities and healthcare-focused workflows our hospital needed,” said Trenton Jackson, Director of Public Safety and Support Services at MLK Community Healthcare. Weapons detection platform “Throughout the installation and testing process, Athena has been a responsive collaborator. They’ve worked with us every step of the way to ensure that the weapons detection platform technology works as it should and integrates smoothly into our hospital operations.” Athena Security’s Apollo 500 Weapons Detection System has already been shown to improve security measures at healthcare facilities. A recent case study at an Illinois-based healthcare system found that Athena’s product successfully detected more than 200 weapons at their hospitals in 2025 alone.

Genetec security center unifies SoFi stadium systems
Genetec security center unifies SoFi stadium systems

Genetec Inc., the global pioneer in enterprise physical security software, announces that SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park have unified their physical security operations using Genetec™ Security Center. Home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, SoFi Stadium is the premier sports and entertainment destination located at Hollywood Park. The stadium has established itself as a world-class venue, hosting record-breaking concerts and global sporting events while consistently ranking among the top venues in the world. Global sporting events To support events of this scale, the organisation standardised on Security Center to unify video surveillance, access control, automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), and other physical security systems in the 3.1 million-square-foot venue and across the 300-acre Hollywood Park development. Operators manage more than 3,000 cameras, 700 readers, and numerous other systems and sensors from three security control rooms, helping teams maintain situational awareness while streamlining day-to-day operations. "Genetec Security Center has improved our response time efficiency by giving us all the information we need in one platform. We’re able to understand what's happening and make decisions quickly," said Nick Bermensolo, Vice President of Security and Safety at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. Physical security systems Since deploying Security Center, the SoFi Stadium IT team has a reliable, scalable, and cybersecure platform that runs on an isolated network and connects back to centralised servers. During big events, they support security operations by monitoring system performance from the Network Operations Center, ensuring everything is working as it should. The security team can easily handle daily tasks, while IT keeps systems running smoothly on the backend. "The Genetec team doesn’t just understand physical security systems, but IT systems too. With their help, we’ve been able to deploy a reliable and high-performing security platform at scale," said Paul Maldonado, Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Operations at SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. AI-based tools Looking ahead, both teams are focused on getting more value out of Security Center, exploring AI-based tools and more automation. They know they have a flexible, scalable platform that can support evolving cybersecurity and network requirements. "Genetec has really helped us establish a technology standard. Security Center is reliable and cybersecure, integrates well with our network, and reduces overhead for both IT and security. That’s the type of technology we want to continue implementing across our business," said Maldonado.