ISC West 2026 Unveils Keynote Speakers & AI-Powered Learning Platform

ISC West 2026, hosted March 23 – 27 in collaboration with premier sponsor the Security Industry Association (SIA), will feature robust SIA Education@ISC Program (Platinum Education Sponsors: Ambient.Ai and Axis Communications) aimed to educate the industry on what’s new and next. With a three-day keynote series and sessions featuring cybersecurity experts and stakeholders from organizations across the private and public sector, 2026 sessions will provide attendees with insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the field of security.
“SIA Education@ISC content helps industry professionals stay current on security technologies, practices and market trends impacting their employers and clients,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “This is our most robust conference program yet, a place where we have insights from top CSOs, practical learning into what is shaping key vertical markets like data center security and technical insights into areas like digital identity, perimeter security and converged security approaches. The content mirrors SIA’s programming offered to its members through our vibrant member communities. This is the most recognized learning environment to receive continuing education credits from SIA and other organizations, including ASIS International, NICET, ETA International, BICSI and ALOA.”
Nicole Miller, Conference Director at ISC Security Event, added, “Education is a cornerstone of ISC West and this year we are proud to introduce an enhanced conference program designed to deliver even greater value. With expanded benefits such as additional workshops, curated session summaries, a dedicated content hub and new networking experiences; including an exclusive reception, we are creating a more engaging, accessible and impactful experience for every attendee.”
Keynotes
Keynote presentations feature visionary leaders who will explore how digital trust, human psychology and AI innovation are redefining the security landscape. Sessions include:
Day 1 Keynote
The Battlefield Beyond the Fence: What National Security Teaches Us About Vulnerabilities, Trust and Protection
Wednesday, March 25 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Venetian Ballroom F
Featuring Haywood Talcove, CEO for government, LexisNexis Risk Solutions; Paul Eckloff, senior director of public affairs, LexisNexis Special Services, LexisNexis Risk Government
As threats evolve, protection is no longer just about securing physical space, but about understanding how people, systems and trust can be exploited together. Ecklof grounds the audience in the realities of national security protection, while Talcove applies the same national-security protection model to the growing fraud and identity exploitation crisis facing enterprises and government programs.
Their discussion examines how adversaries probe and exploit gaps across physical access points, digital systems and human processes to undermine trust and organizational resilience. Drawing on decades of work in national security and alongside federal law enforcement, Talcove and Eckloff demonstrate how public-private partnerships and shared protection principles, paired with continuous assessment and preventive technologies, can help detect exploitation patterns before financial or physical damage is done.
Day 2 Keynote
Securing the Full Spectrum: AI-Driven Resilience in a Converged Security Era
Thursday, March 26 | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Venetian Ballroom F
Featuring Keith White, chief safety and security officer, Salesforce
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In an era of interconnected risks, physical security can no longer exist in a vacuum. The modern agentic enterprise requires a seamless integration of physical protection and cybersecurity. White shares his vision for the future of enterprise safety, demonstrating how AI and automation bridge the gap between bits and bricks to create a holistic, human-led security ecosystem.
Day 3 Keynote
The Human Nature of Cybersecurity
Friday, March 27 | 10:00–11:00 a.m. | Venetian Ballroom F
Presented by the SIA Women in Security Forum; Featuring Dr. Jessica Barker MBE, cybersecurity expert, author and speaker
Barker highlights how human bias makes us all susceptible to online manipulation and how we can practically apply psychology, sociology and neuroscience to understand how cybercriminals operate. Attendees will leave the session with an understanding of how to unlock the human element of this field.
Next-Generation Programming: Hot Tracks and AI-Powered Learning
ISC West 2026 introduces four specialized education tracks to help attendees understand and secure identities as security and safety ecosystems continuously evolve. New tracks include:
- Digital Trust and Identity: Explores the evolution of identity technologies, from personal identity verification (PIV) credentials to biometric authentication and mobile credentials, this track highlights interoperability and multi-manufacturer ecosystems.
- Data Center Security: Examines the unique challenges, specialized design, system integration and risk considerations required to protect this rapidly expanding segment of critical infrastructure.
- Perimeter Security: Looks beyond the built environment to assess layered defense systems and strategies designed to safeguard both physical and digital assets.
- Converged Security: Addresses the convergence of physical and cybersecurity domains by integrating Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices and cloud platforms to deliver unified protection across operational environments.
“The new identity-focused tracks underscore the industry’s continued evolution away from traditional siloed solutions,” said Chris Peckham, an ISC West event speaker who serves on the SIA Education@ISC advisory board and chairs SIA’s Learning and Development Committee in addition to his role as chief operating officer at Ollivier Corporation. “By examining interoperable digital identity frameworks, resilient data center security architectures, layered perimeter defense strategies and the convergence of physical and cyber systems through IoT-enabled devices and cloud platforms, security professionals will learn how to design scalable and integrated security systems that anticipate risk, adapt to emerging technologies and safeguard operations in a digitally connected world.”
Rachelle Loyear, event speaker, SIA Education@ISC advisory board member and vice president, sales, integrated security solutions at Allied Universal, added, “From both a speaker and attendee perspective, these tracks matter to me and every ISC West participant because security concerns rarely sit in just one lane. Digital trust and identity underpin access and confidence as organizations adopt new security controls. Data centers increasingly support mission critical operations and demand specialized, integrated protection. Perimeter security establishes safe operating conditions for people and property. Converged security ties all these elements together, showing us all how physical and digital risks intersect and enabling clearer, more defensible decisions in complex environments. These are the topics we need to be discussing as an industry and learning about individually.”
ISC West 2026 also features the debut of Rozie.AI Synopsis, an intelligent platform that delivers real-time translations, insightful summaries, key takeaways and personalized session recommendations designed to enrich attendee learning and engagement.
The 2026 program welcomes back several cornerstone experiences, including:
- Security Operations Centers (SOC) Track: Practical insights into modern SOC strategies and operations
- RSA@ISC IT for Security Professionals: Series bridging IT and security for professionals tackling converged threats
- SIA Security Megatrends: Expert briefings on the forces shaping the industry’s future
- Active Shooter Workshop: Essential, actionable preparedness and response strategies
- Tech Talks: Fast-paced perspectives on cutting-edge security tech
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