Founders - Ep 3: AccessGrid - Full Market Disruption

Mobile Access Is Identity Infrastructure W/ Guest Host SecuriTEA's Xander Alexander

In this episode of The Inside Track, Phil Coppola sits down with Xander Alexander from SecuriTEA for a practical conversation about mobile access, identity, and the changing role of physical security in the enterprise. Mobile access is often introduced as a convenience story. Tap your phone. Tap your watch. Open the door. But the bigger conversation is about identity, trust, and how physical security can align with the same security models already being used across IT and cybersecurity. Phil and Xander explore why the traditional plastic badge is largely a possession-based model. A card can show that someone has something, but it does not necessarily prove they are the person authorized to use it. Mobile credentials create an opportunity to move beyond simple possession by connecting access to a validated user identity, a trusted device, and enterprise authentication methods such as single sign-on and multi-factor authentication. The conversation also digs into one of the most important areas of mobile access security: provisioning. Once a credential is securely issued to a phone, it can be extremely strong. But how that credential gets to the right person matters. Invitation codes, email-based enrollment, SSO, MFA, automated provisioning, device trust, and lifecycle management all play a role in building a stronger credentialing model. Phil and Xander also discuss the convergence of physical security, IT, OT, and cybersecurity, and why security teams can no longer afford to operate in silos. As threats evolve, access control leaders need to think differently about how credentials are issued, managed, revoked, and governed. If your organization is evaluating mobile access, planning a migration away from physical cards, or trying to better align physical security with enterprise identity strategy, this episode offers a grounded look at the risks, misconceptions, and best practices that should shape the conversation. Topics include: Mobile credentials versus physical cards Identity validation and device trust Why possession is not the same as identity Secure credential provisioning SSO and MFA for physical access Visitor badge and lost card risk Automated provisioning and lifecycle management Revocation and governance Convergence between IT, OT, cyber, and physical security Why mobile access is more than convenience

Genetec's End User Summit at Meta - Key Takeaways for Security Professionals

At the Genetec End User Summit, the most valuable conversations were not about any single product or platform, but about the broader direction of physical security. The event highlighted how modernization is becoming less about technology refreshes and more about building connected, identity-aware operating models. Key themes included the importance of peer-to-peer learning, clean data, interoperability, AI governance, and the growing connection between access control, digital identity, IT, and workplace experience. Physical security is entering a more demanding and more strategic era. AI, cloud, mobile credentials, and integrations all have a role to play, but their value depends on strong fundamentals: clear ownership, reliable data, disciplined governance, and practical use cases. Ultimately, the future of physical security is not one product, platform, or trend. It is a more connected operating model where identity, data, automation, and user experience all play a larger role.

Founders Ep.6 - SoloInsight - Digital Identity from HIRE to RETIRE

What does it really mean to manage identity in a modern enterprise—and why is access control no longer just about doors? In this episode, I sit down with Carter Kennedy and Farhan Massoud of Soloinsight to unpack the evolution of physical identity and access management through their CloudGate platform. We explore how organizations are moving beyond fragmented systems toward fully orchestrated identity workflows that connect physical and digital environments. From mobile credentials and zero trust strategies to AI-driven risk detection and identity “cleansing,” this conversation dives into how automation is transforming security operations at scale. We also tackle the growing convergence of IT and physical security—and why insider threat, compliance, and user experience are now driving forces behind access control decisions. If you’re still thinking about access control as a card and a reader, this episode will challenge that mindset. Because the future isn’t just about opening doors—it’s about understanding identity across the entire journey, from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between.

Founders Ep.5 - Sharry - The Magazine of the Modern Workplace

Sharry is a Prague-based workplace experience and access platform deployed in Class A office buildings worldwide. Sharry provides mobile access, employee badges in Apple and Google Wallet, visitor management, parking integrations, and tenant engagement tools. They are known for the 'street-to-suite' concept, aiming to unify the entire building journey. Josef Šachta is the CEO and co-founder of Sharry. His background includes law and journalism, as well as founding CityBee, a portal focused on connecting people with experiences in their city. This earlier work strongly influenced his approach—prioritizing human experience and emotion in how people interact with buildings. Sharry fits the Founders series because Josef brings a human-centered digital storytelling perspective to a highly technical field. Sharry’s global deployments with wallet-based credentials also reflect where the market is headed.

Founders EP.4 - SmartSpaces - Workplaces as SMART as your Phone!

Smart Spaces is a London-based workplace experience and smart-building platform that connects people to their buildings via a single app. The platform unifies mobile access, desk and room booking, energy and lighting control, tenant engagement, and building communications. Smart Spaces frequently operates in Class A office environments and high-profile developments, positioning its solution as a layer that turns traditional buildings into intuitive, digitally orchestrated workplaces. Brothers Dan and Tom Drogman co-founded Smart Spaces. They come from a background in enterprise software and digital solutions for the built environment. Rather than starting from traditional hardware or PACS, they approached buildings from a user experience and app-design perspective. Their motivation has consistently been to make complex building systems—access control, HVAC, lighting—feel as simple and seamless as using a modern mobile app.