Volume 81

Volume 81 | November 20, 2024

Hello! We are live in New York City at ISC East, where we are super busy activating the Critical Infrastructure Pavilion and are looking forward to the CoreWillSoft breakfast. As usual, it was a pretty impressive show. If you are here, come stop by and say hello. I'd love to catch up.

In Brief 79, titled PACs of the Future, I asked, "What if our systems could operate with fewer people or make the people who operate them more productive?" I have also discussed how PACs, GSOCs, PIAMs, and other platforms are all on the same intersection path around how enterprises manage their operations. Sure, they may come from a different angle, but ultimately, owning the UX will be a massive value creator. Well, it looks like the answer to my question only took a couple of weeks to come to fruition, and it took the form of many inbound emails, calls, from some of you (some known in the space and two that are still in stealth mode) and the recent launch by HiveWatch called Operator AI. I am super bullish on what they showed me and even more, with the way the market and products are changing.

More on that below. But first, here are some updates (and we have had a lot):

The Access Control Collective: As we announced, we have introduced The Access Control Collective, also known as TACC. Think of TACC as a house of brands serving the global access control and smart lock industry. In that house are the Access Control Executive Brief (content and community), ACS Events(our own and third-party events that we activate), Ready Shoot AIM (branding and marketing consulting company), and me (Lee Odess).

YouTube: Along with TACC, we launched The Access Control Collective YouTube channel. We continue to add all the content we've created over the years, so please check it out. We see this as a massive opportunity in 2025 to drive more awareness and conversation.

The Topology Map Plan: The Topology Map is getting a 2025 refresh! Do you need to add your company to the map, or does the one already on it need updates? Submit your info through this link. We'll showcase all changes—new players, M&As, and industry shifts—in our January 2025 release! After two successful years and a ton of downloads, we're making it an annual release to better track industry evolution (and make it easier to update).

AC/MA Summit is a comprehensive half-day event tailored for professionals in banking, corporate development, private equity, and venture capital interested in the global access control industry. Featuring these topics and attendees, this summit provides unique networking opportunities, insightful keynotes, and engaging panel discussions—a first-of-its-kind event for the access control industry. If you are interested in the access control industry and looking to invest or for an investment, this is the conference for you.

ACS25 San Sebastian. I am happy to confirm the dates are May 28th and 29th! It is on! SALTO WECOSYSTEM is the city host, and wow, the locations will be epic. More to come soon.

Next up for me is:

• Another trip to New York for the Security Investor Conference by Imperial Capital (speaking and coverage)

• Then to Groenlo, NL (outside Amsterdam) to meet with the leadership team at NEDAP (coverage)

• Intersec Dubai and the Thought Leadership Pavilion

• ISC West in Las Vegas with the AI Zone and much more

• The Security Event in Birmingham, UK, with the XForum and the Night of Access industry night happy hour (RSVP now as we only have 100 spots for what will be a great night of fun and networking)

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

HiveWatch Announced Their AI Operator: Why it Matters.

As I wrote in Brief 79, agentic AI would bring along a new way our systems operate and ultimately increase the basic expectations of how our systems work. The floor would rise. I talked about how the future of access control systems promises a range of advanced features that will change security management. These systems will offer contextual awareness and personalization, recognizing individuals and adapting responses based on their identities and behaviors. Real-time, proactive adjustments will continuously assess the environment and take action based on predicted needs. Users will enjoy conversational interactions, like voice assistants, enhancing usability and security. The systems will provide predictive alerts and notifications, flagging potential security threats based on AI-driven forecasts. Perhaps most importantly, these agent-first systems will employ self-learning and evolution, using machine learning, and go beyond computer vision to improve continuously and adapt to changing organizational needs. This combination of features will create a more efficient, responsive, and intelligent access control ecosystem.

That is exactly what I saw from HiveWatch. As I noted, they unveiled their AI Operator, which is an impressive look into the future of security operation centers (SOCs).

Here is what it is…

For background, HiveWatch has developed a software platform that integrates various security systems, moving away from the traditional point solutions holding the industry back. Their new feature, AI Operator, is built on Anthropic's LLM, allowing it to adapt to each organization's specific needs, procedures, use cases, and, most importantly, data security concerns.

This AI Operator can handle tasks like assessing alarms, determining suspicious activity based on context, and taking appropriate actions—all without human intervention. It's designed to reduce false alarms (data shows that 98-95% of all alarms are false), improve efficiency, and allow human operators to focus on higher-value, proactive security work.

Another area that stood out to me is that this AI Operator operates within the customer's environment, addressing those data privacy concerns most enterprises are worried about. This changes the way operators engage with systems and how they are initially configured. They claim you can train a new operator on this system in just one hour. That's a huge improvement over the weeks it typically takes to onboard someone on traditional systems.

Ultimately, the AI Operator could be a significant disruptor in the security industry. I will go as far as to say, "It will." Why? If HiveWatch were the only one doing it, then my beliefs would be a desire more than facts. However, the fact that multiple companies are all zeroing in on the problem statements with a hefty investment makes this not an outlier or a trend but a reality. The way our systems work, and the value they create has changed. Is it the norm? No. But will it be? I do believe so. Why? Because it addresses some of our industry's major paradigm shifts and moves us past the "welp, that's just how it is" or "this is how we have always done it" mentality we have gotten used to. It's not just about cutting costs; it's about making security operations more effective and allowing companies to use their human capital where it counts.

AI has promised that, and it is nice to see it in practice.

For more information, check out my interview with HiveWatch's cofounders, Ryan and Jordan.

Are you a founder or leader in the global access control and smart lock industry? Showcase your innovative solutions and share your journey on "3:37 with Lee," the only podcast and videocast series for startups and growing companies in our industry.

Why participate?

• Gain exposure: Reach a global audience of industry professionals and potential clients

• Tell your story: Share your company's mission, challenges, and unique solutions

• Concise format: Just 3 minutes and 37 seconds to make a lasting impression

• Expert host: Engage with Lee Odess, CEO of the Access Control Executive Brief and voice of the global access control and smart lock industry

What to expect.

• A focused interview covering your company's story, problem-solving approach, and innovative solutions

• Professional editing and production for both audio and video formats

• Promotion across our network and social media channels

Book your 30-minute slot now: https://calendly.com/leeodess/3-37-with-lee for Season 1!