The Secured Podcast

This week, Lee breaks down why VTS — which covers over 60% of Class A office space in the US — walked away from building access control in-house to partner with SwiftConnect instead, and what that says about where real value lives in this industry. Then, access control data goes mainstream as Kastle Systems' Mark Ein appears on CNBC's Closing Bell to talk occupancy data across 3,500 buildings in 138 cities. Lee also flags a collaborative article on access control fragmentation, highlights two reads from the Security Breakdown on electric locks and alarm fatigue, and makes his case for naming the next era of the industry: Intelligent Access.

This week, Secured goes live from ALOA — the Associated Locksmiths of America annual show in Las Vegas — with three guests from the locksmith trade reacting in real time to the week's biggest stories in physical security. Joining Lee: Wayne Winton, Dave O'Toole, and Jason Montague. This episode focuses on the Secured podcast broadcast directly from the event floor. We have 3 locksmiths joining the conversation to react to the biggest stories shaping physical security right now. Wayne Winton, Dave O' Toole, and Jason Montague join me to talk about the role locksmiths can play in the $100B electronic access control opportunity. Their advice was simple. To locksmiths: embrace electronic locks. To manufacturers: engage, because locksmiths have more to offer than most realize. Simple advice is often the hardest to act on. My takeaway: this isn’t your grandfather’s locksmith industry anymore, and the ones who engage deeply will be the ones who benefit. Episode 21 of Secured is live now. Subscribe for weekly security technology breakdowns, and comment which electronic security devices you want to see covered in our next episode. Chapters0:00 Welcome to Secured Live from ALOA1:52 Guest Introductions and Industry Predictions4:40 The Shift to Wireless and Ease of Install8:15 Training the Technology Eager Generation11:30 The 100 Billion Dollar Market Squeeze14:50 Moving from Key Cutting to Selling Judgment18:10 Six Pillars of the Modern Locksmith21:45 Solution Based Selling and Code Compliance24:30 Future Trends in Global Smart Lock Adoption26:45 Advice for Manufacturers and Technicians28:15 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

The security industry is facing a massive inflection point that will define the next fifty years of business. With OpenAI investing 150 million dollars into a formal partner network, the line between security integrators and enterprise software consultants is officially blurring. This episode explores why waiting for the market to settle is the riskiest strategy you can take right now. Chapters: 0:00 OpenAI’s 150M Dollar Bet 2:12 Triton Partners and Nordic Consolidation 3:35 Deep Dive into Industry Verticals 4:15 Insights from the CSA Unify Event6:20 The Cost of Waiting on Standards8:05 Aliro: The New Era of Access Control9:15 Travel Updates and ACS 26 New ZealandIf you found this breakdown valuable, please share the episode and leave a five star review. Subscribe to stay ahead of the curve in the security and access control industry.

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Charles Johnson Founder and CEO of NGA Security Advisors LLC We dive into: Negligent security and premises liability How foreseeable risk is evaluated after an incident The role of planning, documentation, and security design What property owners and security providers are responsible for And why security decisions matter long before a case reaches the courtroom This conversation looks beyond the technology and into the decisions, environments, and responsibilities that ultimately shape security outcomes. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Are organizations doing enough to identify and document foreseeable security risks?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Jean-Baptiste Milan, Global OEM Sales Manager at HID, and Carter Kennedy, CEO of Soloinsight. We dive into: The collaboration between HID and Soloinsight to bring biometrics into the CloudGate platform How CloudGate acts as a governance layer for physical identities Why biometric technology is now mature enough to support reliable automation How facial verification and document identification can create a more frictionless experience The balance between security, privacy, and convenience through one-to-one matching And why the industry may need to define itself through physical identity governance, not just cameras, locks, and hardware This conversation explores what happens when biometrics, identity, and access workflows come together to answer bigger questions about who is in a building and what they should be able to access. The episode also touches on Invisible Doors, a book exploring physical identity governance failures and the business value of solving them. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is physical identity governance the next evolution of access control?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Jacob Hengel, CTO of YourSix. In this episode, we dive into: Video intelligence platforms Real-time monitoring and analytics Data aggregation across systems And how video is evolving beyond surveillance This conversation explores how video is becoming a more active part of security strategy. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is video becoming the most important layer in security?

Welcome to Secured Presents: XPod from The Security Event. In Episode 3, Lee Odess closes out the series with a bigger question: is physical security having its mainstream moment? The answer from the show floor was not simple. Across 12 different voices, the “moment” looked different depending on where each person sat in the industry. Some pointed to AI and agents changing integration economics. Others pointed to cloud, software modernization, legacy infrastructure, regulation, ecosystems, user experience, and security becoming foundational infrastructure instead of a bolt-on. That is the point of the episode. This is not one shift. It is multiple shifts happening at the same time, and the convergence is what makes this moment feel different. Featuring perspectives from: Steve Van Till | BrivoSteve Humphreys | HirschKaren | RhombusRoss Bennett | GenetecTrevor Ball | Keri SystemsMaximilien | MacnicaAaron Eastwood | Solo SecureKevin Sherwood | CIE GroupRoman | CoreWillSoftWayne Pierce | March NetworksSam Griffiths | Ajax SystemsServaas | Honeywell Security and Access Solutions / LenelS2 This episode closes the three-part XPod series from The Security Event with one final thesis: identity is the new center, regulation is the forcing discipline, and the mainstream moment is real, plural, and foundational. Let us know in the comments:Do you think physical security is having its mainstream moment?

Physical access control is no longer just a door hardware problem. It has evolved into a critical identity infrastructure challenge that connects physical and digital operations across every major industry. In this episode of Secured, we break down the findings from a comprehensive new report published in partnership with Acre Security. We dive deep into three critical verticals: education, healthcare, and financial institutions to see how procurement patterns and security needs are changing. You will learn why the conversation in K-12 schools is shifting from pure lockdown scenarios to daily operational safety and the true ROI of mobile credentials. In the healthcare section, we discuss how workplace violence is driving capital allocation and why platform consolidation is the only way to manage fragmented systems following mergers and acquisitions. We also explore the financial sector's move toward global standardization and the increasing importance of audit-ready compliance in an era of insider threats. Chapters0:00 Intro and Research Methodology1:35 Education: Safety vs Operations4:10 Healthcare: Workplace Violence and Consolidation6:45 Financial Institutions: Governance and Audit9:20 The Shift to Identity Infrastructure10:45 Industry News and European Regulation Download the full State of the Verticals benchmark report to go deeper into the data. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the Access Control Executive Brief and join the Physec Collective community to stay updated on the latest in security tech.

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we're joined by Joelle Hushen, Founder & President of the NICP and the US CPTED Association. In this episode, we dive into: What CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) actually is — and why it matters The four core principles: natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance How cities like Buffalo, Baltimore, and Fort Wayne reduced crime by applying CPTED Why the FAA, Amazon, and NYPD's counterterrorism unit have all adopted it The bridge between architecture, criminology, and physical security — and why design-friendly safety beats a prison aesthetic every time This conversation will change the way you think about the spaces you build, secure, and operate in. This series is about more than trends. It's about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Are we designing our environments to prevent crime — or just reacting after the fact?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Matt Kopel, CEO and President of SwiftConnect. In this episode, we dive into: Mobile-first access strategies Frictionless entry experiences The role of digital identity ecosystems And how user experience is redefining access control This conversation explores how access is becoming more seamless and invisible. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is frictionless access the future of security?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Darren Bain, VP of Strategy at RightCrowd. In this episode, we dive into: Workforce identity management Access governance in enterprise environments Compliance and operational efficiency And how identity impacts movement across organizations This conversation looks at how identity is shaping workforce behavior and access control. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is workforce identity the next major focus in security?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Lucas Mason, Marketing Manager at Centrios. In this episode, we dive into: The role of messaging in the security industry How companies differentiate themselves The importance of brand clarity And how perception influences adoption This conversation highlights how communication shapes how technology is understood. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Does better messaging actually drive adoption?

In Part 2 of our XPod series from The Security Event, we look at one of the most repeated assumptions in physical security: that regulation is a tax on innovation. The voices in this episode push back on that idea. When regulation is done right, it can force better product discipline, stronger architecture, cleaner data practices, and trust with buyers who cannot afford to get security, privacy, or liability wrong. This conversation brings together perspectives from Gareth Robinson of 2N, Michael Lee of Nedap, Roman Bratishko of CoreWillSoft, Spencer Marshall of Gallagher Security, Nick Venuti of BraXos, Stephen Oliva of Altronix, Pete Jones of Third Millennium / HID, Thomas Bertaux of XPR, Ian Law of Alarm.com, Heikki Hiltunen of iLOQ, and Dick Clark of Telaeris. The takeaway is not that all regulation is good. Too much regulation can become a wall, especially for smaller innovators. But the right amount can become a moat. Regulation is not a tax. It is the moat. This is Secured, live from The Security Event.

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we take a look at the HID Access Fellowship and what it represents for the future of the industry. In this episode, we dive into: The importance of developing the next generation of security leaders How education and mentorship are shaping industry growth The role of innovation programs in driving new ideas And why investing in people is just as important as investing in technology This conversation explores how the industry can build a stronger foundation through talent and community. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is the industry doing enough to invest in its future talent?

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by David W Fuller from Dormakaba. In this episode, we dive into: The intersection of hardware and software in access control How legacy infrastructure impacts modernization efforts The role of global systems in shaping product development And how the physical layer still underpins everything This conversation highlights the importance of aligning physical and digital systems. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Is legacy hardware the biggest barrier to innovation in security?

The physical security industry is currently debating credential formats while the rest of the world is busy redefining what identity means and who owns it. In this episode of Secured, Lee Odess explores the structural gap between security perception and operational reality, and why the industry must move upstream to survive. Chapters0:00 Intro and the Identity Gap1:08 Hivewatch Report: Perception vs Reality3:15 Mobile Wallets and Identity Governance4:55 ASSA ABLOY Acquisition News6:18 Microsoft Project Solera: Reimagining the Badge8:42 Allegion Vertical Strategy10:10 IAM Market vs Physical Security11:55 Hybrid Work and Future Access Control13:25 AI Agents and Machine Identity14:40 Security Industry Transition and Marketing Relief15:50 Final Thoughts and Community Wrap Up If you found this breakdown valuable, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. Join over 1,600 industry leaders in the PhySec Collective by clicking the link in our show notes to continue the conversation.

Back around ISC West, Honeywell LenelS2 and Rhombus announced a partnership to bring cloud video into the Honeywell LenelS2 stack. But what does that actually mean beyond the press release? In this episode of Secured, Lee Odess sits down with Ewa Pigna of Honeywell LenelS2 and Garrett Larsson, CEO and Co-Founder of Rhombus, to talk about what makes this different from a standard integration. The conversation gets into unification versus integration, cloud-native development, open platforms, channel partners, recurring revenue, global scalability, and what enterprise security may look like over the next 30 years. This is not just about video and access control working together. It is about how two companies are thinking through customer experience, integrator enablement, data, support, billing, and value creation in a more unified way.

Welcome to Secured Presents: West to East, a 45+ episode series filmed live at ISC West where we bring the biggest voices in security into real, unfiltered conversations. In this episode, we’re joined by Jordan Hill, Co-Founder and Head of Product at HiveWatch. In this episode, we dive into: The need for unified security operations platforms How fragmented systems create inefficiencies for operators The challenge of managing alerts across multiple tools And how centralization can improve response and decision-making This conversation focuses on reducing complexity in security operations and improving visibility across systems. This series is about more than trends. It’s about capturing an industry in motion. Let us know in the comments: Are unified platforms the answer to solving system fragmentation?

ISC has officially wrapped up, and the energy on the show floor was unlike anything we have seen in years. With over 45 interviews conducted and hundreds of booths explored, one thing is certain: the security industry is undergoing a massive transformation in how we think about technology. Join Lee Odess and Hilary Gallagher as they break down the most important trends, the biggest launches, and the fundamental shift in mindset that is redefining the market. In this episode of Secured, we dive into the record-breaking activity at the show, from the successful FAST Foundation breakfast to the highly anticipated launch of Aliro. We move past the traditional debates of cloud versus on-prem or mobile versus cards to discuss why architectural flexibility is the real winner for end-users. Perhaps the most disruptive takeaway from the entire show was not a specific piece of hardware, but a change in industry mindset. We are witnessing the end of proprietary lock-ins as the primary business model, replaced by a commitment to open systems and collaborative ecosystems. Whether you were walking through the startup section or visiting the massive experience centers, it is clear that the security industry is moving toward a more open and user-centric future.

Are you heading to ISC West this year? The security industry is no longer just piloting new ideas - it is moving at a breakneck pace toward a future defined by identity and automation. Join Lee Odess on this episode of Secured as he provides a comprehensive guide to navigating the show floor and understanding the massive shifts in access control. In this breakdown, we look at four major news stories from industry leaders like Wavelynx, Brivo, and ZKTeco that signal a closing gap between hardware and software. We explore the critical distinction between a single pane of glass and a true data layer, ensuring you do not get sold a solution that is merely a display. Plus, we discuss why government-issued mobile driver's licenses are set to become the ultimate bridge to digital identity. Lee also introduces his twenty-minute access control tour, a framework to help you categorize every booth you visit. By understanding the five forces driving the market and the three types of companies exhibiting, you will be able to see through the marketing noise and identify which solutions are built for the modern era. Whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-time attendee, this episode is your essential pre-show briefing.

IS YOUR COMPANY PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE OF CUSTOMER TRUST AND COMFORT? In this episode of SECURED, Lee Odess breaks down why the physical security industry needs to wake up to the shifting demands of 2026 and beyond. From life safety automation to the battle between IT and physical security, we are covering the trends that actually matter for your business right now.

In this episode, Lee Odess breaks down the biggest moves shaping the physical security industry this week. From Dormakaba’s acquisition spree to the critical fight against NextNav at the FCC, get all the insights, analysis, and actionable takeaways you need. We’ll also dive into new frameworks, financial breakdowns, and the upcoming ISC West & The Security Event. Don’t miss the call to arms around spectrum protection - this stuff matters.

Discover the $70 billion opportunity transforming access control in this episode of Secured. Lee Odess breaks down why Dormakaba, Allegion, and ASSA ABLOY are racing in different lanes of a fast-changing industry. From margin-driven hardware giants to software-centric innovators, learn how the bifurcation of the market is exposing unseen risks—and unprecedented value—for manufacturers, investors, and end users alike. Next, we dive into why new infrastructure standards like Aliro 1.0 and LEAF Verified signal a new era of interoperability, unlocking recurring revenue streams and shifting the industry's center of gravity from hardware to services. Lee Odess explains the model behind these moves and what the platform transition means for everyone in the security ecosystem. Hear about Deep Sentinel’s breakthrough with UniFi APIs—ushering in an era where intelligence layers and AI agents are set to redefine camera platforms and security operations. Plus, get insider insights from the Genea AMA, including how natural language AI is revolutionizing access data and what it means for enterprise security teams. Finally, discover why the one-card campus model is collapsing, how partnerships are the new power move in education security, and why knowing whether you’re a “never,” “maybe,” “yes,” or “been here” matters more than ever when setting your strategy.

Uncover the $32 billion secret hiding in plain sight that is reshaping the future of access control. In this episode of Secured, Lee Odess breaks down the critical divergence between industry giants Allegion and ASSA ABLOY. While one focuses on margins and price hikes, the other is aggressively pivoting toward a software-defined future. We analyze why the market is splitting into three distinct layers and how platform multipliers are creating massive hidden value that most investors and industry pros are missing. Then, we tackle the biometrics industry's biggest hurdle: the narrative. Following a deep dive with SAFR in Seattle, Lee proposes a strategic shift to "Human-First Biometrics." It is time to stop letting dystopian stories define the technology and start emphasizing user empowerment and privacy to win the public debate. We also recap the game-changing atmosphere at LEAF Connect in Los Angeles, where competitors united around open standards and interoperability, proving that the future belongs to open ecosystems. Finally, we discuss the empty chair at the Munich Security Conference and why the physical security industry must demand a seat at the table alongside cybersecurity and global defense leaders. 

AI Access Control is revolutionizing the future of security, and the game has officially changed! In this episode of Secured, host Lee Odess breaks down how innovations like Genea AI are transforming access control, enabling natural language queries to instantly generate actionable insights—no spreadsheets or manual workflows required. Learn why the value in security is shifting from hardware to identity data, and discover how companies like Bearing and ACRE are embracing AI-powered, cloud-native platforms to redefine the industry. We also explore the "sailing ship syndrome" and its relevance to legacy access control systems, discuss the rise of platform-first thinking, and highlight why the future of security lies in intelligence, not just electronics. From exclusive news to thought-provoking insights, this episode is packed with everything you need to understand the seismic changes shaping the access control landscape. Don’t miss out—this is the future of AI Access Control in action!

Welcome back to Secured with Lee Odess! In this episode, Lee breaks down the latest industry news, including key acquisitions by Assa Abloy and Dormakaba, and what they signal for vertical integration in security. We dive into data from the PSA State of the Integrator 2026 report, discuss outcome-based pricing trends, and explore how AI agents are shaking up enterprise software - plus what it all means for security integrators. Lee also clarifies the difference between audience, community, and association, and shares why it's essential to know which you're building. Whether you’re an integrator, manufacturer, or just passionate about the evolving security space, there’s something here for you. Don’t forget to subscribe for more in-depth security industry analysis, straight talk on tech trends, and behind-the-scenes insights from Lee Odess. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your team and let us know which topic resonated most with you!

Episode 1: Momentum In the first full episode of Secured, Lee Odess explores the power of momentum and how it is shaping the future of the physical security industry. Kicking off with insights from HID’s Origin event in Austin, Lee highlights the accelerating shift toward software, digital identity, and platform enablement, and explains why HID’s digital group is poised to have an outsized industry impact over the next three to five years. The episode also covers major community and partnership announcements, including new collaborations with the Door Hardware Institute (DHI), the European and American Locksmith Federations (ELF and ALOA), and the Secure Building Council (SBC). These partnerships signal growing alignment across hardware, locksmithing, and the built environment as security continues to evolve from mechanical to digital. Lee recaps recent Access Control Executive Briefs, including key takeaways from Intersec Dubai and a deep financial analysis by Tony Dong on when negative earnings can still signal long term value. He closes with a candid perspective on why security companies struggle with marketing and branding, and why empowering real people to tell real, local stories is the path forward. The episode wraps with a preview of major upcoming activations at ISC West and a reminder that what is being built through the community is not about any one person. It is about collective momentum, engagement, and shared growth.

Welcome to the debut of the Secure Podcast, hosted by Lee Odess of The Access Control Collective. This weekly, under-15-minute podcast is your touchpoint for what’s happening across the global physical security industry, from access control and video to identity and the broader market convergence shaping security today. Each episode is structured around three parts: a recap of the most interesting industry developments from the past week, a deeper dive into highlights from the community-driven Security Breakdown newsletter, and a focused discussion on a key trend or idea influencing the market. Designed to be thoughtful, practical, and forward-looking, the Secure Podcast goes beyond “locking and unlocking” to explore growth, change, and where the industry is headed, without sensationalism. Join the conversation weekly, and help shape future episodes by sharing topics, trends, or voices you’d like to hear featured.