Volume 125

Reminder to JOIN the The PhySec Collective community Slack channel to network, engage, and be part of something big! You can sign up here.

OK, for real… this is the last one for 2025. As we said in Brief 124, on behalf of myself and the entire team at TACC, happy holiday and New Year to you and yours. Thank you for everything.

See you back at it on January 5th!

Like the broader global security industry, The Access Control Collective and the Access Control Executive Brief are evolving as we enter 2026. The core idea is simple: we are doubling down on community.

Over the past few years, the most consistent feedback we've gotten is that our greatest differentiator is our community. And we agree. In 2026, we are orienting the entire business around expanding, strengthening, and serving that community through the PhySec Collective and new content models.

To be clear: the Access Control Executive Brief, ACS Events, and our content are not going anywhere.  In fact, they are getting better, more focused, and deeper.

The back story…

The community began as an extension of the monthly Access Control Executive Briefs. It was where we got together for intimate discussions and networking, and the Slack group was largely made up of people who already knew one another.

Over time, something changed.

We noticed that many people who had joined Slack were no longer doing so because of the Brief. They were joining because they wanted a place to talk, learn, connect, and exchange ideas with peers across the global industry. At one point, someone referred to it as “a large online forum.” That moment mattered. It crystallized what we were building, and it triggered action.

The physical security industry has never had a truly global digital space that functions as a professional water cooler across the full ecosystem. LinkedIn is constrained by algorithms and public visibility. IPVM is not designed as a community, and no one feels good after wading through the industry’s underbelly. Facebook groups are fragmented and not for everyone.

The PhySec Collective fills a gap that has existed for years. And 2026 is when it gets the proper treatment. “PhySec” represents the physical security industry. “Collective” reflects a purposeful gathering of people, ideas, products, and tools…a community.

The PhySec Collective now becomes the heart of everything we build. In 2026, it becomes the foundation of the entire company.

Every product (e.g., The Security Breakdown), service (e.g., PhySecJobs.com), and initiative (e.g., ACS26) will be designed to do one of two things:

1. Strengthen engagement inside the PhySec Collective.

2. Support the success of the community.

This is a full strategic reorientation. The community is no longer an extension of the business. It is the business.

The Access Control Executive Brief will continue as my analysis, perspective, and thought leadership on access control and digital transformation. My LinkedIn page remains our top-of-funnel distribution channel and open forum, with the explicit goal of attracting more of the global industry into the PhySec Collective.

The updated structure looks like this:

• LinkedIn: Top-of-funnel awareness and discovery

• The Security Breakdown: This is the same digital newsletter built for and by the community that has seen great growth in 2025, but in 2026, it will also receive a new premium tier. We’ll continue taking your content, producing it, and distributing it.

• Premium Content:

  • Deeper analysis of Access Control Executive Brief and other Key Opinion Leaders content (more on that below)

    • Select research and long-form analysis.

    • Industry partnerships

    • Distributed under The Security Breakdown newsletter and The Secured YouTube channel

• Dedicated YouTube channel called The Secured, produced by PhySec Studios (more on that below). In 2026, we’re creating a home for all of ours and others’ content. More to come. Keep an eye out.

Pricing update:

• Individual free access: $0 for access to the PhySec Collective Slack channel and The Security Breakdown only.

• Individual premium access: $10/month or $100/year (down from $30/month / $337/year)

• Corporate subscriptions: $5,000/year or $500/month (up from $4,500/year), with expanded benefits

For existing members, pricing will stay the same (corporate) or decrease (individuals).

This structure allows the community to scale while creating a clear value tier for deeper analysis and professionally produced content. With all this change, we have decided to start migrating from Slack to a comprehensive platform that better supports our growing, engaged community. More details coming soon.

As mentioned above, we will be introducing the Network for Key Opinion Leaders. A major 2026 initiative is the launch of the PhySec Network, powered by Key Opinion Leaders and produced, packaged, and activated by us. Let's call them KOLs for short. These are not influencers. They are subject-matter experts across access control, video, identity, design, finance, regional markets, and more. Each KOL owns a clear lane and produces practical, high-signal content. TACC handles production, distribution, and amplification across our platforms.

Why we built this:

• Spotlight real expertise and credible perspectives.

• Create consistent, high-quality content at scale.

• Build a trusted network of specialists people can follow.

Formats may include:

• Recorded conversations, interviews, or short solo commentary

• Written opinions, explainers, and playbooks

• Trend analysis and industry commentary

• Live AMAs with the community

• Participation in live events and panels

Cadence and deliverables are tailored per KOL. Topics stay within each expert’s lane.

The model is simple: KOLs create → TACC produces → TACC distributes → Community sharing → Everyone wins.

With this, we needed to up our production capabilities at TACC, and we did just that. Moving forward, production will leverage PhySec Studios, our physical production studio in Las Vegas, built in partnership with Alex Darke of Momentous. Yes, we built out a studio. More on that soon.

With the move to KOLs, I and the Access Control Executive Brief, become one premium voice within a broader, global network. We have already started onboarding 7 KOLs covering finance, business scaling, identity, remote video, human factors, and more.

What about events in 2026?

From the beginning, our goal has been to activate both online and in person. We wanted to be truly omnichannel. We’ve tested aggressively, refined continuously, and invested where it matters. Some initiatives worked, while some didn’t. The results from 2025 give us a clear plan, sustainable cadence, and strong partnerships for 2026.

I will continue speaking at company and association events globally in 2026 (already booked for some including DHI All Access in Nashville, HID Origo in Austin, and company visits such as SAFR in Seattle, panel moderation at LEAF in California, and event coverage of BERGFEST in Munich). If you’d like me to speak or visit your team, reach out, as dates are filling up fast.

Here are the ACS Events that anchor our own in-person strategy:

ACS-owned events

RAMP

• The event for marketing, branding, and communications professionals in the security industry.

• October 22 – New York City

• Reception: October 21

ACS26

• The premier event for thought leadership, networking, and those shaping the global access control industry.

• October 8 – City to be announced (yes, it will be warm and yes, it is going to be amazing)

• Reception: October 7

PhySec Leadership Summit

• Something new for 2026, an invitation-only, C-suite retreat limited to 50 executives. We consistently hear from executives across the industry that there is a need for a truly intimate, executive-level gathering. The PhySec Leadership Summit is an invitation-only, C-suite retreat designed specifically for senior leaders across physical security and adjacent industries. This two-day experience includes curated networking, structured one-on-one meetings (we will make introductions or set up requested meetings), white glove service (everything but flights is included in the price), and a keynote speaker from outside the industry for each topic that will focus on business, technology, safety, and policy. The reception will take place on May 26, followed by a full-day summit on May 27 at Station DC. The goal is simple. Create meaningful, confidential connections among the industry’s most influential decision makers.

• May 27 – Washington, DC

• Reception May 26, full summit May 27 at Station DC

Third-party events we are activating at:

We invest our time and energy where ROI and engagement are strongest. We encourage you to do the same.

• Intersec Dubai | January 12–13 | We return with the Access Control Theatre on Monday, January 12, from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm, featuring Axis Communications, CoreWillSoft, HID, Elatec, Wavelynx, Iris ID, and Spintly. On Tuesday, we will be recording conversations in the official show podcast studio with others such as MC Dean, AMAG, etc. We are also hosting a private, invite-only event on Monday evening in partnership with HID, MC Dean, and AMAG.

• ISC West | March 23–27, Las Vegas | Official partner activations across the Identity Stage, Startups Showcase, and Experience Center. We will also host the Industry Breakfast on Monday at 8:00 am, in honor of FAST.

• The Security Event (UK) | April 28–30, Birmingham | We will activate the XForum stage and surrounding pods with thought leadership from leading global brands. Industry Night returns on April 28 at 6:00 pm at The Botanist, Gas Street Basin, with a larger group of sponsors and an expanded experience.

• ISC East | November 4–5, New York | Details are still being finalized with RX, but activations will likely mirror 2025. Expect emerging trends, startup programming, and time on The Bridge stage. New for 2026, we will host an Industry After Party following SIA’s Honors Night on November 4 at 9:00 pm near City Winery.

• Securing New Ground | October 20–21, New York | We will again activate the lunchtime roundtables. Last year, they were a highlight of the show, and we will continue evolving this important hour.

• The Security Event Asia | November 10–12, Singapore | Activation of the XForum stage with global thought leadership from leading brands across the access control ecosystem.

• Security Investor Conference | December, New York (TBD) | We are honored to introduce a new format, presenting The Future of Access Control through five-minute presentations from AccessGrid, Igloo, Nuki, Ones, and Seam. Early feedback has been extremely positive, and we anticipate this becoming a recurring activation in 2026.

We will also deepen our work with the Security Investment Associations (SIA) and Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST) in 2026, with more to come soon.

Alright, like I said many times in this Brief…more to come, it is coming in January, and we can’t wait. Thank you for everything, and here is to a happy and healthy 2026! Enjoy the time off (or the quiet)!

PS: I am sure some of you may forward this, but please do so sparingly and encourage others to sign up here. Thank you!