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| Nearly 700 companies exhibited a wide array of security solutions for the event's attendees |
"Security practitioners from around the globe look to the Annual Seminar and Exhibits as their single source for the latest evolutions in security management tactics, techniques, and technology," says ASIS President Joseph R. "Bob" Granger, CPP. "From education to networking to products and services - ASIS 2010 delivered on its promise and, by all accounts well exceeded the expectations of attendees and exhibitors."
"Organisations continue to demand a solid business case for investing their money," noted Granger, adding, "With paid and exhibits-only attendance up by more than 8 percent this year, it seems evident that this event is conveying the right level of ROI sought by security practitioners and their organisations. A full independent audit of our registrations is being undertaken and the final figures will be announced as soon as they become available."
Covering more than 230,000 net square feet of the Dallas Convention Centre, nearly 700 companies exhibited a wide array of security solutions for the event's public and private sector practitioner attendees. Leading-edge innovations in access control, IP-based video surveillance, and explosion detection were among those demonstrated, as were new and enhanced service offerings.
This year's Seminar and Exhibits hosted the second ASIS Accolades, an awards competition open to all ASIS exhibitors, which recognises the security industry's most innovative new products, services and/or solutions. A team of judges representing end-users and experts in physical security and cyber technologies reviewed more than 70 entries before selecting the top 10 winners.
The event was hosted by ASIS, the leading organisation for security management professionals worldwide |
More than 160 sessions spanning 18 tracks offered practitioners the option to gain new knowledge, best practices, and strategies in security management. Crisis management, critical infrastructure protection, crime/loss prevention, physical security, homeland security, info/IT security, and investigations were among the subject matter areas of concentration at ASIS 2010.
ASIS partnered with four professional organisations in 2010 to expand the depth of educational offerings in the area of information security. These organisations included: (ISC)2®; The Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (IT-ISAC); Financial Services - Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (FA-ISAC); and, ISACA. The International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC) also partnered with ASIS and facilitated 'The Successful Security Consultant', a two-day pre-seminar programme. A session on workplace violence was also delivered by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).
International hero and pilot Chesley B. Sullenberger III addressed a crowded general session on Wednesday, October 13. Sullenberger, who safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River in Jan. 2009, stated: "I was a regular guy who had done a pretty good job of preparing himself for whatever might come." In describing his experience, he observed: "Fear is normal. Fear is human. Courage is the discipline and the realistic confidence to do what is required in spite of fear."
On Thursday, October 14, keynote Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan offered his vision for a modern, democratic, non-fundamentalist Islamic Pakistan. "We are at the threshold of making a decision of whether to quit or not to quit in Afghanistan," Musharraf told a packed hall at the Dallas Convention Centre. "I have told you about the blunder of the past. I pray to God that we do not make another blunder."
A new set of dynamic social networking tools was launched for ASIS 2010 to assist both the attendee and those who could not attend the annual seminar. From the enhanced online show planner to the mobile app to the first-ever ASIS 2010 HUB, members were able to find their way around on-site, or take advantage of video interviews and education offerings virtually. With the help of a TweetStream, LinkedIn group (now with 9,000+ members), Facebook fan page, and blog, information, best practices, and advice were flowing at warp speed and networking was made easier than ever.
Handouts from the educational sessions at ASIS 2010 are available online (password-protected for paid attendees only). Audio recordings from the education sessions will be available online in mid-November (password protected for paid attendees). A DVD of all the sessions or downloads of particular recorded sessions are available online to everyone, for a fee.
Plans for the 57th Annual Seminar and Exhibits, to be held in Orlando from September 19-22 (Monday through Thursday), are underway. More than 75 percent of the booth space is already sold. The deadline for the call for presentations is March 1, 2011. Go online for more information.
