The Access Control Executive Brief

Secured Podcast | Live from Intersec Dubai 2026: Allan Chester, Juergen Sept, Tünay Karatekin

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai 2026, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East.   In this episode, I’m joined by Allan Chester from Any2Any, Juergen Sept from Tanlock, and Tünay Karatekin from Ones Technology. We talk about how the region has clearly moved into a more mature market, why interoperability and ecosystem thinking are replacing point solutions, and how Intersec Dubai is becoming a unique environment where even competitors are more open to collaboration. More conversations coming over the next few weeks.

West to East: Episode 9: Where the Industry Is Showing Up at ISC West

ISC West is officially next month, and in Episode 9 of West to East, Lee Odess breaks down where the industry is truly showing up — and why it matters. This episode isn’t about broad predictions or trend lists. It’s about activation. Lee walks through three specific areas at ISC West that signal where security is headed next: the new Digital Trust & Identity Stage, the Startup Pavilion, and the Experience Center. Each represents a different lens on how identity, innovation, and real-world system experience are reshaping the market. Lee shares why identity has moved from a feature to a foundation, why early and growth-stage companies offer the clearest view of what’s coming, and why experiential demos are closing the gap between how products are sold and how they’re actually used. He also highlights the second annual Industry Breakfast supporting the FAST, happening the morning of Day 1 at the Venetian — a community-led way to kick off ISC West while supporting workforce development. See you in Vegas next month and we’ll see you next time on West to East.

Secured Podcast | Live from Intersec Dubai 2026: Matt Bennett, Alert Enterprise

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East. In this episode, I’m joined by Matt Bennett from Alert Enterprise. We talk about what stood out in 2025, why the Middle East is a critical — and often misunderstood — market, and why the next phase of access control is about democratizing identity and mobile credentials by reducing cost, complexity, and friction. More conversations coming over the next few weeks.

Secured Podcast | Live from Intersec Dubai 2026: Alex Holmstrom, Acre Security

Recorded live at Intersec Dubai, I sat down with leaders shaping the security market across the Middle East. We talked candidly about reflections on 2025, why this region matters to the global business, and what’s coming as we look toward 2026. This marks the start of a new podcast series, Secured: Live from Intersec Dubai 2026. The first release features Alex Holmstrom from Acre, where we dig into how the market is moving beyond the cloud debate and toward true platform strategies. More conversations coming over the next few weeks.

West to East: Episode 8: Momentum, Innovation, and What to Watch at ISC West

In this solo year-end episode of West to East, Lee Odess reflects on the momentum coming out of ISC East and looks ahead to what’s shaping up to be a high-energy ISC West in Las Vegas this March. Lee shares how the show continues to return to — and surpass — its pre-COVID form, with bigger booths, bolder activations, and a clear shift toward ISC West as the place where companies launch new technologies and ideas. He breaks down several areas he’s most excited about, including the new focus on identity and biometrics, the expanded Startup Area highlighting emerging and scale-up companies, and the immersive Experience Center sponsored by SAGE Integration that brings real-world security applications to life on the show floor. He also highlights the growing investment RX and SIA are making in education, showcases, and community-driven experiences — and why that commitment is fueling innovation across the industry. Lee closes with details on a special FAST Foundation breakfast at ISC West, supporting technician education and addressing one of the industry’s biggest challenges: talent. West to East is a podcast from The Access Control Executive Brief, RX, and SIA, connecting the energy of ISC West with the insights, innovation, and community shaping the future of security.