ASIS Europe 2018 Review

ASIS International is receiving positive feedback from participants at ASIS Europe 2018 – From Risk to Resilience, which took place on 18-20 April in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

The event attracted 775 registrants from 52 countries. Attendees spanned the full range of established and aspiring security leaders, from the Chief Security Officers of global tech giants, CISOs and Regional Security Directors, a variety of security, risk management and investigations specialists, through to early career professionals and security management students at local universities.

2018 ASIS International President, Richard E. Chase, CPP, PCI, PSP, states, “Europe represents one of the key ASIS communities, with members spread across 23 chapters, and this event is the region’s most critical gathering of security professionals. The level of the sessions, and the calibre of the participants, makes this a unique occasion where we address not just pressing security matters but also tackle the future challenges of our organisations and the profession.”

Comprising a forward-looking conference, practical classroom trainings, a Technology and Solutions Track, exhibition, Career Centre and an ASIS Cultural Properties Council seminar, two days of education packed in 70 sessions across 7 tracks. As well as expert presentations and panels, presentation formats included roundtable workshops and interactive sessions with live polling to enhance the learning experience.

Throughout the event, attendees navigated a broad sweep of risks—from the malicious use of the latest emerging technologies to the dangers of low tech attacks, particularly on soft targets in public spaces. Other topics explored included the human factor and the insider threat, and ever-present responsibilities like travel risk management and duty of care.

Eduard Emde, CPP, ASIS Europe 2018 Conference Chair, adds, “It was an intensive two days, framed in a business perspective, understanding how terms like Internet of Things, connected devices and digital transformation will soon disappear because everything being connected will simply become the new normal. We were also told of business model innovations, with “product as a service” taking hold. From the security risk perspective and the threat landscape, we heard that technology is very much “the jugular vein of organisations”, confirming that for security practitioners, the bottom line is that Enterprise Security Risk Management approaches which cover the full sweep of human, cyber and physical assets, are essential for supporting our organisations through partnership and shared strategic objectives.”

On the exhibit floor, innovations ranged from the latest integrated access control and surveillance technology, to self-learning cyber defenses, and mass communications platforms. Knowledge driven solutions were also strongly represented, from intelligence and risk analysis, to executive protection, and workforce training programmes. The event was sponsored by Johnson Controls, The Hague Security Delta, NEDAP, Securitas, and Trigion.