Andrew Elvish
Shift in Mindset: Security Systems are Now Part of operational Transformation
Security teams are sitting on a mountain of data and insights collected by their systems. This data isn’t only useful to respond to incidents, carry out investigations, or protect people and property. It can also inform and transform how organizations structure their operations and processes. Using security system data in this way is a significant shift in mindset that has taken place over the past few years.
Balancing Privacy and Security: Building Trust in an Increasingly Connected World
As technology advances and our lives become more intertwined with digital devices, the amount of personal information collected by various systems has grown exponentially. Physical security systems and Internet of Things (IoT) devices collect massive amounts of data every single day. This data can provide a much more detailed portrait of people, places, and events than was previously possible.
Genetec Prioritizes Digital Initiatives for 2020 to Help Customers and Partners Stay Connected and Informed
Genetec announced that it is significantly expanding its digital initiatives to make it easier for customers and partners to stay connected and informed over the coming months. Following the success of Connect’DX, the Genetec virtual trade show and conference, the company is planning a similar event in the fall. Genetec is also ramping up its education programs with the immediate online availability of its entire technical curriculum.
Genetec Announces Live Virtual Trade Show, Connect’DX
Genetec announced that it has opened pre-registration for its first virtual tradeshow, Genetec Connect’DX, taking place April 20-22, 2020. In what would normally be a busy conference calendar including such events as ISC West, IFSEC and Intertraffic, all postponed due to COVID-19, the business wants to be sure to engage and support its customers as they normally do in-person.
What Lies Ahead For 2019
As you know, security is a fast-paced industry that touches the lives of hundreds of millions of people every day. What we do and what impacts us has the potential to effect organizations, communities, and governments around the globe. This is one of the reasons why a look at the top five trends for the year ahead cannot be taken lightly. After careful consideration, here’s what I think will be impacting our world in 2019.
The Far Reaching -And Positive- Impact Of Europe’s GDPR
I have been talking about the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for almost two years. The regulation sets out a single set of rules for all companies operating in the EU. These rules were developed to provide people with greater control over their personal data and incentivize organizations to make meaningful changes to how they collect, process, and store that data. The GDPR is also the reason why you received so many emails last spring from sites that you visit and newsletters that you subscribe to asking you to update your information.
How Physical Security Systems Can Give Banks A Competitive Edge
I recently bought a new house which happens to be right across the street from my bank. This means that, in addition to working with our banking customers all over the world, I’m now able to observe my local branch from the front porch. From these various perspectives, I have seen the increased focus banks of every size are placing on developing strategies to attract and retain customers, as they continue to keep savings and investments safe. More than ever before, banks are looking at new ways to enhance what they’re currently doing and improve the services they’ll be able to offer in the future.
Airside Security: Perimeter Protection For Airports
I have mentioned in this space before that I have the opportunity to travel a lot and that this has afforded me an excellent view into how airports are run. But my perspective is not limited to their inner workings. In fact, from my office here in Montreal, I can see the O6L and 24R runways at the P.E. Trudeau airport. This means that, every once in a while, I get to watch these feats of engineering and technology move through the air. And I am reminded of the incredible precision required to get so many planes safely through take-off and landing every day. At the same time, I also know that any disruption on the airfield —no matter how small— can delay flights or threaten security.
What Cities Can Learn From Their Data
The 21st century is shaping up to be the century of data. We are collecting more and better data than ever before. And the possible applications include everything from improved security and more efficient movement through public spaces to better allocation of resources and strategic planning. But, while access to this data can help improve our lives in truly meaningful ways, we are also facing new challenges about how to better collect, understand, and make use of it.
Real Talk About School Security
It’s graduation time for high-schoolers and college students alike. The streets here are awash in young people in suits, prom dresses, and graduation garb. I love to see those fresh faces full of excitement, and a little apprehension, about the future. But it is not lost on me that, in response to recent events, while so many young people are experiencing this important rite of passage, many of us are having —or not having— difficult conversations about school safety. For anyone avoiding the conversation, it might help to know what the research about gun violence in schools is telling us. The current debate around school safety is centered on mass shootings. But research to be published later this year by Professor James Alan Fox and doctoral student Emma Fridel shows that mass school shootings are rare events. They have found that, on average, mass murders in the U.S. occur between 20 and 30 times per year while, on average, only about one of those incidents takes place at a school.
So Much Data, So Little Time
As part of a company with global operations, I have had the opportunity to see and support a wide variety of organizations as they grapple with security challenges on a large scale. One of the persistent challenges we’re facing in the 21st century is how to manage and make use of the ever-increasing amount of data being collected and stored within our security systems. Lately, a lot of my time has been spent with our European team out of our Paris office, getting ready for the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Developed to protect individual privacy, the GDPR sets out a series of specific regulations as well as strict fines for non-compliance for organizations that collect and process personally identifiable information (PII) from EU citizens.
Collaborative Approach To Moving Ideas, Data, and People
As you are reading this, the chances are pretty good that I’m on the road. Getting to meet new people, seeing their challenges, and helping to develop solutions is one of the best parts of my job. But, while this requires a lot of travel time, it has also afforded me the opportunity to see and know a wide variety of cities and their airports. In my experience, the best airports are those that have created a seamless collaboration between check-in, air-travel, and commerce. When travelers move easily through airport spaces, everyone benefits.
The View From The Cloud At The Winter Olympics
Temperatures here in Montreal have once again settled into the low negative 30s. Rather than complain, we embrace the cold and head outside. And this year, it’s with the added benefit of getting ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. To be fair, we are not all Olympic athletes able to compete in bobsledding, skeleton, or moguls. But we do feel like winter sports are an essential part of our everyday lives. We feel personally connected with the event, and, for me, this extends to issues of security. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to talk with Juliette Kayyem, a professor who teaches on homeland security at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. At the time, she said something that has stayed with me ever since: “If you want to have a perfectly safe Super Bowl, don’t have a Super Bowl.”
Genetec’s Andrew Elvish: A Road Less Traveled
We recently caught up with Andrew Elvish at Genetec and chatted about his journey in becoming Vice President of Marketing at Genetec. Starting in February 2018, Andrew will be contributing a monthly column called Beyond Security for Security.World to share thoughts and insights on new and emerging trends in our industry.